Hideo Kojima has announced that he cast Margaret Qualley as Mama in the video game Death Stranding after being inspired by her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed fragrance advertisement for Kenzo.

On April 25, Kojima shared the viral commercial on Twitter, stating, "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding." The advertisement features Qualley dancing to a bass-heavy track reminiscent of Fatboy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" video, which famously showcased Christopher Walken's dance moves.

The Kenzo fragrance ad displays Qualley in an eccentric dance routine, characterized by shaking, grimacing, and spasmodic movements, including a segment where she shoots lasers from her fingers. Another part of the performance shows her struggling to control her limbs. You can watch the full, captivating performance below:

I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding. https://t.co/UDJa2NjbO6

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) April 25, 2025

Fans on social media were quick to react, with one calling Kojima a "visionary," and another humorously suggesting, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Kojima is involved in several high-profile projects. These include Death Stranding 2, set for release on June 26, 2025, a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, the Xbox-published game OD, which Kojima describes as "a game I have always wanted to make," and an action espionage project exclusive to PlayStation.