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 choice that's generated significant buzz due to the character's striking resemblance to Solid Snake. Director Hideo Kojima's casting process was particularly meticulous, aiming to surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff from the first Death Stranding.

Kojima discovered Marinelli through his performance in They Call Me Jeeg. Their connection deepened following the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden, with Marinelli proactively reaching out to express his admiration and fandom. This initial contact, coupled with Kojima's later viewing of Marinelli in The Old Guard, led to an offer. Following The Eight Mountains, Marinelli accepted, and even introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, for the role of Lucy. Remarkably, their performance capture sessions occurred during the pandemic, yet Kojima praises their exceptional on-set work, evident even in the brief trailer glimpses.

The trailer showcases Neil's striking visual similarities to Solid Snake, particularly his bandanna-clad appearance and commanding presence leading a squad, reminiscent of Cliff Unger in the original Death Stranding. This visual echo isn't accidental; Kojima himself had previously noted Marinelli's potential to embody a "spitting image of Solid Snake" if he wore a bandanna, back in 2020.

While Neil's connection to Solid Snake likely remains purely visual, the imagery undeniably evokes Kojima's Metal Gear legacy. The casting appears carefully considered, raising anticipation for Neil's role in the game. For a deeper dive into this intriguing casting choice and its potential links to Metal Gear Solid, explore IGN's article, "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."

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

42 Images

Death Stranding 2 Cast

14 Images