Kojima Unveils New 'Solid Snake': Death Stranding 2 Echoes 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 Léa Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, the trailer introduces a fresh face to the Death Stranding universe: Luca Marinelli, who seems set to play a pivotal role akin to Kojima's iconic character, Solid Snake.

Who is Luca Marinelli playing in Death Stranding 2?

Luca Marinelli, an acclaimed Italian actor, steps into the role of Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. While predominantly known for his work in Italian cinema, English-speaking audiences may recognize him from his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard. In the new trailer, we first see Neil in an intense interrogation scene, accused of unspecified crimes. He claims to have been doing the "dirty work" for a mysterious suited man, who insists that Neil has no choice but to continue working for him.

The scene shifts to Neil conversing with Lucy, a Bridges employee portrayed by Marinelli's real-life wife, Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic connection and reveals that Neil is involved in smuggling cargo, specifically brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

For context, the original Death Stranding introduced the concept of Bridge Babies (BBs), which are seven-month fetuses extracted via C-section from brain-dead mothers. These BBs exist in a liminal state between life and death, enabling them to communicate with the afterlife and detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent spirits that can cause catastrophic Voidouts, similar to nuclear explosions. The U.S. government had previously conducted experiments with BBs to understand Voidouts, but these were halted after a disastrous experiment in Manhattan. However, Neil's smuggling suggests that these experiments are continuing covertly.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer concludes with Neil donning a bandana, strikingly reminiscent of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. This visual cue is no coincidence; Hideo Kojima has previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting that with a bandana, he would resemble Solid Snake. While Neil is not literally Solid Snake, the resemblance is a deliberate nod to Kojima's past work, blending the two universes in a creative homage.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 is rich with references to the Metal Gear series. Neil, akin to Cliff Unger from the first game, becomes Beached and leads a platoon of undead soldiers. This narrative thread touches on Kojima's recurring theme of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effect on humanity, a central motif in the Metal Gear series.

Moreover, the trailer hints at a metaphysical connection between Neil and Solid Snake, suggesting that Neil might embody the lingering spirit of Snake within the Death Stranding universe. This is further emphasized by a fleeting transformation of Neil's face into a skull, a poignant symbol of death and legacy.

The trailer also features a scene where Heartman merges the DHV Magellan with a colossal BT to form a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This fusion not only mirrors the iconic machines of the MGS series but also underscores the theme of nuclear power and destruction, as BTs can cause Voidouts akin to nuclear blasts.

The cinematic style of the new trailer echoes the grandeur of the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, blending gameplay and cutscenes to showcase Kojima's visionary approach to game storytelling.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It's highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will helm another Metal Gear Solid game, as he parted ways with Konami, leaving the franchise behind. However, the themes and imagery of Metal Gear continue to influence his work, as evident in Death Stranding 2. The new game promises even grander ambitions, with diverse environments and an increased focus on combat, drawing it ever closer to the spirit of a Metal Gear Solid game, albeit under a different name.