Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's latest trailer unveiled a wealth of new information, most notably the casting of Luca Marinelli as Neil—a role that's generated significant buzz due to the character's striking resemblance to Solid Snake. Director Hideo Kojima's casting process for this pivotal character, intended to succeed Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff from the first game, proved particularly meticulous.

Kojima detailed the casting journey on X/Twitter, explaining that he initially discovered Marinelli through They Call Me Jeeg. Their connection deepened following the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden, where Marinelli, a self-proclaimed Metal Gear fan, directly contacted Kojima expressing his admiration.

After seeing Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer. Following The Eight Mountains, Marinelli accepted, and even introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, for the role of Lucy. Their performance capture, completed during the pandemic, impressed Kojima, who praised their on-set work.

Neil's reveal in the trailer is undeniably captivating. The final scene, featuring Neil sporting a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and commanding soldiers in a manner similar to Cliff, has fueled speculation.

This casting choice has been a long time coming for Kojima, who, back in 2020, noted Marinelli's resemblance to Solid Snake if he wore a bandanna. While Neil is unlikely to be a Snake variant, the visual parallels are undeniable, invoking Kojima's Metal Gear legacy.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Death Stranding 2 Cast

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