Margaret Qualley Joins Death Stranding Cast After Bizarre Perfume Ad Dance

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. Sharing the viral commercial on Twitter on April 25, Kojima tweeted, "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding."

The advertisement features Qualley executing a dynamic and unusual dance routine to a bass-heavy track, reminiscent of the iconic Fat Boy Slim video "Weapon of Choice," which starred Christopher Walken. Qualley's performance includes shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers, showcasing a unique choreography that caught Kojima's eye.

In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama, also known as Målingen, a brilliant scientist working for Bridges in the United Cities of America. Alongside her twin sister Lockne, whom she also plays, Mama co-developed the Chiral Network, a crucial communication system that enables instant data transfer across the game's world.

The Kenzo fragrance ad, which has garnered attention for its bizarre yet captivating dance sequences, can be viewed 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 have reacted enthusiastically to Kojima's casting revelation. One fan praised him, saying, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously commented, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Hideo Kojima is busy with multiple projects. Death Stranding 2 is set to release on June 26, 2025. Additionally, he's working on a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, and an Xbox-published game titled OD, which he describes as "a game I have always wanted to make." Kojima is also developing a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project.