Kojima Productions recently unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for *Death Stranding 2* at SXSW, showcasing familiar faces like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux reprising their roles from the original game. However, the trailer introduces a new character portrayed by Luca Marinelli, who seems set to become Hideo Kojima's new Solid Snake equivalent in this intriguing universe.

Luca Marinelli steps into the shoes of Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. An Italian actor known for his roles in Italian cinema, Marinelli gained international recognition as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard. In the trailer, Neil is introduced in an interrogation room, facing accusations from a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this individual, hinting at a strained working relationship. The man insists that Neil has "no choice" but to continue working for him.

The narrative then shifts to a scene with Neil conversing with Lucy, a Bridges employee portrayed by Marinelli's real-life wife, actress Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic connection and reveals that Neil's task involves smuggling brain-dead pregnant women, a detail that ties back to the core mechanics of the Death Stranding universe.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

One of the most iconic elements of the original Death Stranding was the image of Norman Reedus's character, Sam Porter Bridges, carrying a glowing orange flask with a baby — known as a Bridge Baby (BB) — strapped to his chest. BBs are seven-month fetuses extracted from brain-dead mothers, existing in a state between life and death, which allows them to connect with the world of the dead and detect Beached Things (BTs). These BTs are malevolent souls trapped in the living world, capable of causing catastrophic events called Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government was experimenting with BBs to understand Voidouts, which can destroy entire cities. These experiments were officially discontinued after a tragic Voidout in Manhattan, but clandestine research continued, explaining Neil's role in smuggling brain-dead pregnant women for the government's ongoing secret studies.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

Image credit: Kojima ProductionsThe trailer concludes with a striking image of Neil donning a bandana, reminiscent of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil isn't literally Solid Snake, the visual homage is deliberate. Hideo Kojima had previously expressed interest in Marinelli's resemblance to Solid Snake after watching The Old Guard and Martin Eden, hinting at this connection well before the trailer's release.

So, while Neil isn't Solid Snake, the reference is a nod to Kojima's iconic creation, blending the worlds of Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid in a way that excites fans of both series.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

Neil and his undead troops. Image credit: Kojima ProductionsThe trailer doesn't just pay homage to Metal Gear Solid with Neil's bandana; it's filled with thematic and visual references. Neil becomes Beached, his soul trapped in the living world, much like Cliff Unger in the first game. Accompanied by a platoon of undead warriors, Neil's story echoes the Metal Gear theme of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effect on humanity.

The trailer also hints at a broader narrative about the resurgence of gun culture on a "new continent," directly referencing Kojima's long-standing critique of arms proliferation, a core theme in the Metal Gear series. The possibility of Neil being a metaphysical "version" of Solid Snake further connects the two franchises, suggesting that the essence of Snake may be symbolically present in the world of Death Stranding.

A Metal Gear-like creature in Death Stranding 2. Image credit: Kojima ProductionAnother significant nod to Metal Gear is the scene where Heartman combines the ship DHV Magellan with a colossal BT to form a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This fusion mirrors the Metal Gear machines' function as nuclear weapon platforms, albeit in a new, eerie form.

The cinematic style of the Death Stranding 2 trailer, similar to the epic Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, further ties the two games together. Both trailers blend gameplay and cutscenes, presenting characters like movie stars and showcasing the grand scope of Kojima's vision.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It's evident that Hideo Kojima won't be returning to the Metal Gear Solid series, having parted ways with Konami. Future Metal Gear Solid projects, such as the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, will proceed without his involvement. However, the themes and imagery of the series continue to influence Kojima's work, as seen in Death Stranding 2.

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 suggests even grander ambitions than its predecessor, with diverse settings and a greater focus on combat. While not a Metal Gear Solid game by name, Death Stranding 2 is shaping up to be a spiritual successor, capturing the essence and thematic depth of Kojima's most renowned work.