Hideo Kojima has revealed that he cast Margaret Qualley for the role of Mama in Death Stranding after being captivated by her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed fragrance advertisement for Kenzo. On April 25, Kojima shared the viral commercial on Twitter, stating, "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding."
In the advertisement, Qualley delivers a mesmerizing dance performance set to a bass-heavy track, reminiscent of Fat Boy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" video featuring Christopher Walken. Her dance involves shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers, showcasing a unique blend of control and chaos.
In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama, also known as Målingen, a brilliant scientist within the United Cities of America who, alongside her twin sister Lockne (also played by Qualley), developed the Chiral Network. This network is crucial for Bridges, enabling instant data transfer across the game's world.
You can watch Qualley's full, intriguing, and highly entertaining performance in the Kenzo fragrance ad below:
I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding. https://t.co/UDJa2NjbO6
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) April 25, 2025
Fans on social media were quick to react, with one praising Kojima as a visionary, while another humorously suggested they should be cast next for their morning routines.
Currently, Hideo Kojima is not resting on his laurels. He's deeply involved in several high-profile projects, including Death Stranding 2, set to release on June 26, 2025, a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, and OD, an Xbox-published game described by Kojima as "a game I have always wanted to make." Additionally, he's working on a new PlayStation exclusive action espionage project, keeping his creative fires burning brightly.
