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 recently unveiled an exciting 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, showcasing both familiar and new faces. Among the returning stars are Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, the trailer introduces a fresh character, portrayed by the Italian actor Luca Marinelli, who seems set to take on a role reminiscent of Kojima's iconic character, Solid Snake.

Luca Marinelli lends his voice and likeness to the character Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Known primarily for his roles in Italian cinema, Marinelli gained international recognition for his portrayal of the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard. In the trailer, Neil is initially seen in an interrogation room, accused of unspecified crimes by a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this man and seeks to end their arrangement, only to be told he has "no choice" but to continue.

The scene shifts to Neil conversing with a Bridges employee named Lucy, played by Marinelli's real-life wife, actress Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic connection and reveals Neil's job involves smuggling cargo—specifically, brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

In the original Death Stranding, one of the most striking images is Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, carrying a glowing orange flask with a baby inside. This baby, known as a Bridge Baby (BB), is a seven-month fetus extracted from a brain-dead mother, existing in a state between life and death. This unique condition allows BBs to communicate with the world of the dead, helping their carriers detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent souls that can cause catastrophic Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government conducted experiments with BBs to understand Voidouts, which are devastating events akin to nuclear explosions. These experiments were officially halted after a BB-related Voidout destroyed Manhattan and killed the President. However, the research continued covertly, explaining Neil's role in smuggling brain-dead pregnant women, likely for the government's ongoing illegal experiments.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer concludes with Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, strikingly reminiscent of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil is not Solid Snake, the visual homage is intentional. Hideo Kojima has previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting that with a bandana, he could resemble Solid Snake. This nod to Kojima's past work is evident in the trailer, though the universes of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding remain distinct.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 not only pays homage to Metal Gear Solid through Neil's appearance but also evokes its themes. Neil becomes Beached, his soul trapped in the living world, similar to Cliff Unger from the first game. Accompanied by undead warriors, Neil's character reflects the theme of gun culture and weapon proliferation, a recurring motif in Kojima's work. The Metal Gear series often dealt with the dangers of nuclear weapons and the moral dilemmas of using arms to prevent war, themes that resonate in Death Stranding 2.

Moreover, the trailer suggests a metaphysical connection between Neil and Solid Snake. As a Beached Thing, Neil's soul could be seen as a representation of Snake's enduring legacy, trapped in the world of Death Stranding. This is further emphasized by Neil's face briefly turning into a skull, symbolizing death and the end of the Metal Gear franchise.

Another significant reference to Metal Gear is seen when Heartman merges the ship, DHV Magellan, with a colossal BT to create a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This fusion hints at the potential for Voidouts, akin to nuclear threats in the Metal Gear series.

The cinematic quality of the Death Stranding 2 trailer also mirrors the epic scope of the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, blending gameplay and cutscenes to showcase Kojima's vision.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It's highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will return to the Metal Gear Solid series, as he parted ways with Konami, the franchise's owner. Future Metal Gear Solid projects, such as the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his involvement. However, the themes and imagery from Metal Gear Solid continue to influence Kojima's work, as seen in Death Stranding 2.

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 suggests that Kojima's ambitions for the sequel are even grander than the first game, featuring diverse environments and a stronger focus on combat. While not a Metal Gear Solid game by name, Death Stranding 2 draws heavily from its predecessor, creating a new chapter that feels closer to Kojima's iconic series than ever before.