Hideo Kojima reveals how Norman Reedus quickly signed on for Death Stranding. Despite the game's early development stage, Reedus readily agreed to star as Sam Porter Bridges, the protagonist tasked with delivering crucial packages across a dangerous, post-apocalyptic landscape.
Death Stranding, a unique and unexpected hit, benefited greatly from Reedus's performance and the game's high-concept narrative featuring other Hollywood stars. Its slow-burn success fueled significant post-launch discussion.
Now, with Death Stranding 2 underway and Reedus returning, Kojima shared the story of their initial collaboration. He recounts pitching the game to Reedus at a sushi restaurant, receiving an immediate "yes" despite the absence of a script. Within a month, Reedus was in the studio for motion capture, likely contributing to the iconic 2016 E3 trailer that unveiled Death Stranding as Kojima Productions' debut independent project.
Kojima also highlighted the precarious position of both himself and his studio at the time. Newly independent after leaving Konami and the Metal Gear series, he had minimal resources when he approached Reedus. Their connection stemmed from the cancelled Silent Hills project with Guillermo del Toro, with the legendary P.T. teaser serving as the unexpected catalyst for their future collaboration on Death Stranding.
