Kojima met him in a Netflix movie and immediately saw him as the perfect Solid Snake. The story behind the homage to his legendary franchise in Death Stranding 2. The DS2 trailer, On the Beach, features a “cheap Solid Snake” portrayed by Luca Marinelli, and his presence is anything but accidental.

It’s official: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach finally has a confirmed release date. Hideo Kojima’s ambitious new open-world adventure, promising an emotional and deeply cinematic experience, premiered last night at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas. The announcement came alongside a sprawling 10-minute trailer filled with stunning environments, cryptic story beats, and, most notably, two undeniable nods to Metal Gear. While these references could be seen as playful jabs at Konami, the most striking of them—the appearance of Luca Marinelli as a “discount Solid Snake”—is more than just a joke. Kojima has long admired the actor’s uncanny resemblance to the legendary gaming icon.

Of all the striking moments in the trailer, one in particular set Kojima fans buzzing. In the closing seconds, we meet Neil, a brand-new character played by Italian actor Luca Marinelli, widely recognized from Netflix’s 2020 action-thriller The Old Guard. His rugged features and intense presence are reminiscent of Clifford Unger from the first Death Stranding, but what truly sent fans into a frenzy was a single shot: as Neil ties a headband around his forehead, his resemblance to Solid Snake is uncanny.

Kojima Had His Eye on Marinelli Back in 2020

This wasn’t a last-minute casting decision. Back in 2020, Kojima posted on Instagram about Marinelli, captivated by his performances in Martin Eden and The Old Guard. He pointed out the actor’s striking similarity to Solid Snake, even speculating that if Marinelli ever wore a headband, the resemblance would be undeniable. Now, four years later, Death Stranding 2 has turned that vision into reality, igniting speculation about whether this is merely a tribute or something more significant within the game’s narrative.

Metal Gear Easter Eggs Hidden in the Trailer

This isn’t the only nod to Kojima’s past. Another key scene in the trailer features Heartman piloting a massive oil-based mechanical behemoth. At a pivotal moment, the DHV Magellan ship’s structure locks into place on the creature’s head, forming a silhouette strikingly similar to Metal Gear Rex, the iconic walking tank from Metal Gear Solid.

The references to Kojima’s history with Konami and Metal Gear are impossible to ignore, but the bigger question remains: is this just a nostalgic tip of the hat, or is Kojima teasing something more? One thing is certain—Death Stranding 2 has already captured the industry’s attention, and with Kojima at the helm, anything is possible.

Source: 3DJuegos