Who Is Kojima’s New ‘Solid Snake’ and Why Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the Closest We’ll Ever Get to Another Metal Gear Solid

Kojima Productions recently unveiled an exciting 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, showcasing both familiar and new faces. Among the returning stars are Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, the trailer introduces a fresh character, Luca Marinelli, who appears set to take on a significant role reminiscent of Kojima's iconic Solid Snake.

Who is Luca Marinelli playing in Death Stranding 2?

Luca Marinelli, an acclaimed Italian actor, lends his voice and likeness to the character Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. While Marinelli is best known to international audiences for his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, his portrayal of Neil marks a significant addition to the Death Stranding universe.

In the trailer, Neil is initially seen in an interrogation room, accused of unspecified crimes by a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this man and seeks to end their arrangement, only to be told he has "no choice" but to continue. The scene shifts to Neil conversing with Lucy, a Bridges employee played by Marinelli's real-life wife, Alissa Jung. Their dialogue hints at a romantic relationship and reveals Neil's involvement in smuggling cargo—specifically, brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

The concept of brain-dead pregnant women ties back to the original Death Stranding, where Norman Reedus' character, Sam Porter Bridges, carries a Bridge Baby (BB) in a glowing orange flask. BBs are seven-month fetuses removed via c-section from brain-dead mothers, existing in a limbo state that allows them to communicate with the world of the dead and detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent souls causing Voidouts—catastrophic events akin to nuclear explosions.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government conducted experiments with BBs to understand Voidouts, but these were officially discontinued after a disastrous experiment in Manhattan. However, the trailer suggests that these experiments continued in secret, with Neil smuggling brain-dead pregnant women to support the government's covert research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer concludes with Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, strikingly reminiscent of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil is not Solid Snake, the visual homage is intentional. Hideo Kojima has previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting that with a bandana, he could resemble Solid Snake. This nod to Kojima's past work is clear, yet the universes of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding remain distinct.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

The trailer not only pays homage to Metal Gear Solid through Neil's appearance but also through thematic connections. Neil becomes Beached, his soul trapped in the living world, similar to Cliff Unger from the first game. Accompanied by undead warriors, Neil's story echoes the themes of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effects on humanity, central to the Metal Gear series.

Additionally, the trailer features Heartman combining the ship DHV Magellan with a colossal BT to form a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This connection underscores the ongoing influence of Metal Gear on Kojima's work, even as he explores new narratives in Death Stranding 2.

The cinematic quality of the Death Stranding 2 trailer also mirrors the epic scope of the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, blending gameplay and cutscenes to showcase Kojima's vision.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It's highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will return to the Metal Gear Solid series, given his departure from Konami. Future MGS projects, such as the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his involvement. However, the themes and imagery from Metal Gear Solid continue to influence Kojima's work, as evident in Death Stranding 2.

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 suggests that Kojima's ambitions for the sequel are even grander than the first game, with diverse environments and a greater focus on combat. While not a Metal Gear Solid game by name, Death Stranding 2 draws heavily on the visual and thematic elements of Kojima's past work, creating a new chapter that feels both familiar and innovative.