Hideo Kojima says that although his upcoming Death Stranding contains some A-List talent, the game isn’t trying to legitimize through the use of big-name actors. With the likes of Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, and Léa Seydoux all lending their likeness to the ambitious PlayStation exclusive, Kojima promises it isn’t an easy way to sell more copies.
Despite an extensive E3 presentation where Death Stranding showed off its gameplay, fans are still no closer to understanding what is going on in the game. Audiences may have gotten a closer look at Reedus’ delivery boy Sam Porter Bridges and met Seydoux’s mysterious blonde, but Kojima Productions is still holding plenty back for the game’s eventual release.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Kojima told players that he doesn’t care how famous an actor is, and as it stands, he is only interested in crafting his own little Death Stranding bubble:
He went on to explain how working with an actor - no matter who they are - beats working with a bunch of pixels:
“That’s not my aim at all. Game development is something that takes a lot of energy and requires a lot of time and is something you wholly invest your life into. I’m sure it’s the same case for making a movie but when you’re investing so much you don’t think about whether actors sell or whether they’re famous or they’re established. For me, it was more working with people I trust and people I like to work with.”
From Mark Hamill providing his voice to the Joker in the Arkham games to Liam Neeson in Fallout 3, Hollywood’s best are no strangers to the world of video games. As far back as 2004, Willem Dafoe was lending his likeness to the forgotten James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. That being said, there is no escaping the particularly impressive galaxy of stars that Death Stranding has snared.
“Back in the day, we didn’t use actors – we created characters from scratch like they did in anime. In my case, I’ve been making games for 32 years and the technology now means I can create whatever I can think of with 100% validity. But that’s not interesting because it has no analog element, it has no organic, living element. For example, if I had Norman here I might say I want him sitting in this chair and he’ll say, no, I think it would be better if I sit over here. And I’ll be, right, let’s see what comes out of it.”
Reedus has been a staple of The Walking Dead since the first season back in 2010, while Mikkelsen and Seydoux have both had big parts in the James Bond franchise. Elsewhere, Guillermo del Toro is also attached to Death Stranding and will lend his considerable talent to the project. With Stranding showcasing such a unique world that had never been seen before in video games, it isn’t hard to see how Del Toro’s work on Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, and The Shape of Water could come in handy.
As Kojima explained, it is just a case of finding the right fit. Looking over at Quentin Tarantino or Christopher Nolan, they frequently work with the same actor because they know how they work and what they can bring to the table. Kojima has clearly selected his Death Stranding actors based on their previous experience and not the potential of shifting more games.
E3 was a strange one for Death Stranding and some gamers are still left more confused than interested in the sprawling adventure game. Only time will tell whether Death Stranding is a style-over-substance affair that will end up forking out for its Hollywood stars, but even if the game does flop, at least it will look good doing so.
More: The Biggest Winners And Losers Of E3 2018
Source: The Telegraph
