Hideo Kojima has revealed that he cast Margaret Qualley for the role of Mama in Death Stranding after being captivated by her performance in a Spike Jonze fragrance advertisement for Kenzo.

In a tweet shared on April 25, Kojima expressed his admiration for the viral commercial, stating, "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding." The advertisement features Qualley dancing energetically to a bass-heavy track reminiscent of Fat Boy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" video, which famously showcased Christopher Walken's dancing prowess.

The Kenzo fragrance ad showcases Qualley's unique dance routine, characterized by shakes, grimaces, and spasms, including a striking moment where she appears to shoot lasers from her fingers. Her performance, filled with controlled yet wild movements, can be viewed in its entirety 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 were quick to respond to Kojima's revelation, with one commenting, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," and another humorously adding, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Hideo Kojima is immersed in multiple projects, including Death Stranding 2, set to 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 a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project.