Kojima Unveils New 'Solid Snake' in Death Stranding 2: A Metal Gear Solid Revival?

Kojima Productions unveiled an exciting new 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW over the recent weekend, showcasing both familiar faces and new characters. Among the returning stars are Norman Reedus and Léa Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original Death Stranding. However, the trailer kicks off with a new face: Luca Marinelli, who steps into the spotlight as a character with significant potential to become as iconic as Kojima's legendary Solid Snake.

Luca Marinelli, an acclaimed Italian actor, takes on the role of Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Known primarily for his work in Italian cinema, Marinelli has gained international recognition through his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard. In the trailer, Neil is first seen in an intense interrogation, accused of unspecified crimes by a mysterious man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for the man, suggesting a strained working relationship that he wishes to terminate. The man firmly insists that Neil "has no choice" but to continue his work.

The scene transitions to Neil conversing with a Bridges employee named Lucy, portrayed by Marinelli's real-life wife, actress Alissa Jung. This interaction not only hints at a romantic connection between the two but also reveals the nature of Neil's job: smuggling cargo that consists of brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

This element ties back to one of the most memorable aspects of the original Death Stranding, where Norman Reedus' character, Sam Porter Bridges, carries a glowing orange flask with a baby, known as a Bridge Baby (BB), strapped to his chest. BBs are fetuses removed via cesarean section from brain-dead mothers, existing in a state between life and death that enables them to communicate with the world of the dead. These infants help their carriers detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent spirits trapped in the living world that can trigger catastrophic events called Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the U.S. Government conducted experiments on BBs to understand Voidouts, which are massive, city-destroying events akin to nuclear blasts. Despite the official discontinuation of these studies following a devastating Voidout in Manhattan that killed the President, the research continued covertly. Neil's smuggling activities appear to be part of this secret continuation, working for the U.S. Government to facilitate their illegal research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

Image credit: Kojima Productions

The trailer concludes with a striking shot of Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, reminiscent of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While this visual cue sparks speculation, Neil is not Solid Snake; the worlds of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding remain distinct. However, this homage is intentional, as Hideo Kojima expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting that with a bandana, he could resemble Solid Snake, a comment he made in a 2020 Instagram post after watching Marinelli in The Old Guard and Martin Eden.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

Neil and his undead troops. Image credit: Kojima Productions

The trailer doesn't just pay homage to Metal Gear Solid through Neil's appearance; it weaves in thematic connections. Neil eventually becomes "Beached," his soul stranded in the living world, akin to Cliff Unger's fate in the first game. As a Beached Thing, Neil leads a group of undead warriors, echoing the series' exploration of war and its consequences. A narrator in the trailer references the resurgence of gun culture on a "new continent," directly tying into Kojima's recurring theme of weapons proliferation and its destabilizing effect on humanity, a central motif in Metal Gear Solid.

Additionally, the trailer features Heartman merging the ship, DHV Magellan, with a colossal BT to form a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahelanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This connection is further solidified by the cinematic style of the trailer, reminiscent of the epic scope seen in the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It is highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will return to the Metal Gear Solid franchise following his departure from Konami. Any future Metal Gear Solid games, such as the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his direct involvement. However, the influence of Metal Gear Solid is evident in Death Stranding 2, as Kojima draws inspiration from his past work to craft a new narrative. The sequel promises even more expansive environments and a stronger focus on combat, making it feel closer to a new Metal Gear Solid game in spirit, if not in name.