Kojima's New 'Solid Snake' Revealed: Death Stranding 2's Metal Gear Legacy

Kojima Productions unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, introducing a new face alongside familiar ones like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux. This newcomer, Luca Marinelli, plays Neil, a character whose presence hints at a significant connection to Kojima's past work.

Who is Luca Marinelli Playing in Death Stranding 2?

Marinelli portrays Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Known for roles in Italian films and as Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, Marinelli's Neil is initially seen in an interrogation, seemingly at odds with his employer over "dirty work"—the smuggling of brain-dead pregnant women. A later scene hints at a romantic relationship with Lucy (played by Marinelli's wife, Alissa Jung), further complicating Neil's situation.

Wait, Brain-Dead Pregnant Women?

The original Death Stranding featured Bridge Babies (BBs)—seven-month fetuses from brain-dead mothers—used to detect Beached Things (BTs). While government research on BBs was officially discontinued after a catastrophic Voidout, the trailer suggests clandestine continuation of these experiments, with Neil acting as a smuggler for this illicit research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer's final shot of Neil with a bandana bears a striking resemblance to Solid Snake. While Neil isn't Solid Snake, the visual similarity is intentional. Kojima previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, even commenting that he'd look like Snake with a bandana—a prediction fulfilled in the trailer. The connection, therefore, is a deliberate homage.

How Death Stranding 2 Connects to Metal Gear Solid

The thematic parallels between Death Stranding 2 and the Metal Gear Solid series are significant. Neil's eventual transformation into a Beached being, leading undead soldiers, mirrors Cliff Unger's fate in the first game. The trailer's mention of the resurgence of gun culture on a "new continent" echoes the anti-armament themes prevalent in Kojima's previous work. This could be interpreted as a metaphysical representation of Snake's soul trapped within the Death Stranding universe, further emphasized by Neil's skull-like visage flashing briefly.

Further reinforcing the connection, Heartman appears to merge the DHV Magellan with a colossal BT, creating a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5's Sahelanthropus. The cinematic style of the trailer itself, mirroring the epic scale of Metal Gear Solid 5's Red Band trailer, adds another layer to this deliberate homage.

Will There Be Another Kojima Metal Gear Solid Game?

It's highly unlikely Kojima will produce another Metal Gear Solid game. However, Death Stranding 2, with its expanded environments, focus on combat, and thematic resonance with Metal Gear Solid, feels like a spiritual successor, channeling the spirit and vision of Kojima's past work into a new, ambitious narrative.