K ojima Productions premiered a new, 10-minute long trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW over the recent weekend, and while it features some familiar faces – like Norman Reedus

If you’ve watched the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, you’ll know that Italian actor Luca Marinelli puts on a bandana and looks directly into the camera like Metal Gear Solid protagonist Solid Snake. It’s one of the best Easter eggs in the epic 10-minute trailer, but did you know auteur Hideo Kojima foreshadowed the scene half a decade ago?

Kojima explains that during the pandemic, when he was casting for Death Stranding 2, Neil would be an important character that replaces Cliff from the first Death Stranding, and how the fans "would not be satisfied" unless the casting would surpass Mads Mikkelsen (who played Cliff in the first game).