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 a new face alongside familiar ones like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux. This newcomer, Luca Marinelli, plays Neil, a character who bears a striking resemblance to a certain legendary soldier.

Who is Luca Marinelli Playing in Death Stranding 2?

Marinelli, an Italian actor, portrays Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, providing both voice and likeness. Known to English-speaking audiences for his role as Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, Marinelli's Neil is initially shown in an interrogation, seemingly trying to sever ties with a mysterious employer who forces him to continue smuggling cargo—brain-dead pregnant women. A later scene hints at a romantic relationship with Lucy (played by Marinelli's wife, Alissa Jung), a Bridges employee.

Wait, Brain-Dead Pregnant Women?

Recall the iconic image of Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) carrying a Bridge Baby (BB) in the first Death Stranding? These BBs, seven-month fetuses from brain-dead mothers, exist in a liminal state, allowing them to communicate with the dead and detect Beached Things (BTs). The US government's past experimentation with BBs, discontinued after a catastrophic Voidout in Manhattan, seemingly continues in secret, explaining Neil's smuggling operation. He's likely working for the government to further this illegal research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer's final shot of Neil with a bandana strikingly resembles Solid Snake. While Neil isn't Solid Snake—the universes remain distinct—the visual similarity is deliberate. Kojima's 2020 Instagram post mentioning Marinelli and his resemblance to Snake, if wearing a bandana, foreshadowed this visual echo.

How Death Stranding 2 Connects to Metal Gear Solid

The connection goes beyond a simple homage. Neil's transformation into a Beached being, leading an undead army, mirrors Cliff Unger's fate in the first game. The trailer's narration about the resurgence of US gun culture on a "new continent" echoes Metal Gear's themes of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effect on humanity—a recurring motif in Kojima's work. Neil's existence could even be interpreted as a metaphysical "version" of Solid Snake, a trapped soul in the Death Stranding universe.

Further reinforcing the link, Heartman's apparent merging of the DHV Magellan with a colossal BT creates a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5's Sahelanthropus. The cinematic scale of the Death Stranding 2 trailer, mirroring the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, further emphasizes this intentional connection.

Will There Be Another Kojima Metal Gear Solid Game?

The likelihood of another Kojima-directed Metal Gear Solid game is slim. His departure from Konami effectively ended his involvement with the franchise. However, Death Stranding 2, through its imagery, themes, and gameplay, serves as a spiritual successor, showcasing Kojima's continued exploration of his signature motifs within a new narrative framework. The sequel promises a larger scope than its predecessor, expanding environments and emphasizing combat, bringing it closer in spirit, if not in name, to a new Metal Gear Solid experience.