Who Is Kojima’s New ‘Solid Snake’ and Why Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the Closest We’ll Ever Get to Another Metal Gear Solid

Kojima Productions unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, introducing familiar faces like Norman Reedus and Léa Seydoux alongside a newcomer: Luca Marinelli. Marinelli's character, however, is far from just another addition to the cast; he appears poised to become Kojima's modern-day Solid Snake.

Who is Luca Marinelli Playing in Death Stranding 2?

Marinelli, an Italian actor, portrays Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, lending both his voice and likeness to the role. While predominantly known for Italian-language films, English-speaking audiences may recognize him as Nicky, the immortal mercenary from Netflix's The Old Guard.

The trailer showcases Neil in an interrogation, accused of unspecified crimes by a suited man. Neil claims he was merely a pawn, attempting to sever ties, only to be met with the assertion that he "has no choice." The scene shifts to Neil conversing with Lucy (played by Marinelli's wife, Alissa Jung), hinting at a romantic relationship and revealing Neil's illicit cargo: brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, Brain-Dead Pregnant Women?

The original Death Stranding famously featured Sam Porter Bridges carrying a Bridge Baby (BB), a seven-month fetus extracted from a brain-dead mother. This creates a liminal state, allowing BBs to communicate with the dead and detect Beached Things (BTs)—malevolent souls causing Voidouts. Prior to the first game, the US government experimented with BBs to understand Voidouts, but research ceased after a Manhattan Voidout. However, the experiments continued in secret, explaining Neil's smuggling operation—presumably for the government to further its illegal research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer culminates with Neil tying a bandana, strikingly resembling Solid Snake. While Neil isn't Solid Snake (the universes remain distinct), the resemblance is intentional. In 2020, Kojima stated on Instagram that Marinelli reminded him of Snake, adding, "I think if he donned a bandana, he’d be a spitting image of Solid Snake!" The trailer's visual cue is a clear nod to this earlier observation.

How Death Stranding 2 Connects to Metal Gear Solid

The Snake resemblance isn't merely a fan service easter egg. The trailer heavily evokes Metal Gear. Neil's eventual "Beached" state, mirroring Cliff Unger's fate in the first game, sees him as a soldier leading undead warriors. The narrator mentions the resurgence of US gun culture on a "new continent," echoing Kojima's recurring theme of weapons proliferation and its destabilizing effect on humanity—a central theme across the Metal Gear series. This anti-armament stance is reflected in the possibility of non-lethal playthroughs in several Metal Gear games.

Thematically, Neil could be a metaphysical "version" of Snake. Beached Things are deceased souls tethered to the living world; Snake, artistically speaking (with the Metal Gear franchise seemingly concluded), is also "dead." Neil might represent Snake's soul trapped within the Death Stranding universe, as suggested by a skull-like flash of Neil's face in the trailer.

Beyond Neil, the trailer features Heartman merging the DHV Magellan with a colossal BT, creating a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5's Sahelanthropus. Both the Metal Gear machines and the Magellan (housing BTs capable of Voidouts) indirectly represent nuclear threats.

The trailer's cinematic style, mirroring the 10-minute Red Band trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5, further underscores the connection. Both trailers are epic in scope, presenting characters like movie stars and seamlessly blending gameplay and cutscenes.

Will There Be Another Kojima Metal Gear Solid Game?

It's highly unlikely Hideo Kojima will create another Metal Gear Solid game. His departure from Konami ended his involvement with the franchise. While future MGS projects, such as the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, will exist, they won't bear his creative touch.

However, Death Stranding 2 clearly draws inspiration from the Metal Gear series. The sequel's ambition surpasses the first game, featuring diverse environments and a greater emphasis on combat. Visually, thematically, and in gameplay, Death Stranding 2 feels like a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, even without the name.