Kojima Reveals More About ‘Death Stranding’ at SDCC; Keanu Reeves Suggested For Mads Mikkelsen Role?!
On top of revealing the box art for Death Stranding, Kojima Productions head Hideo Kojima also chatted up San Diego Comic-Con goers with more info on the game, including news that Kojima was originally suggested to have Keanu Reeves in the game!
Kojima revealed at the ‘Master Storyteller’ panel at SDCC (via tweets from Asia Pacific Arts reporter Kalai Chik and The Hollywood Reporter) that Reeves was recommended to him for the role of Clint in the game, but Kojima stated “I wanted Mads [Mikkelsen].”
Aside from that tidbit (and the fact that Reeves is starring in the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077), Kojima talked about why Death Stranding is so different from other games.
“There’s no reason to create something that’s already there. I want to create something that gives more inspiration to the world. Like Hollywood movies where some don’t live with you, people just digest and consume. What I do is make something that’s difficult to chow down when you digest my work. What happens when I release my game or when Nicolas releases a movie, we get criticism or praise. But you think about it ten years later, same as Bladerunner [sic] or 2001: Space Odyssey.”
In addition, Kojima revealed details about the character of Heartman, who is played by Nicolas Winding Refn (director of Drive). “Heartman’s heart stops every 21 minutes. What happens is that he dies and he looks for his family on the other side for three minutes,” explained Kojima.
As for Refn himself, he joined Kojima on stage to talk about his experience working on the game. “I make movies and when I work with actors, it’s flamboyant and colorful and warm, and then I come here and it’s like, ‘Take your clothes off. We’re going to paint your face with dots.’”
When asked about the blurring of lines between Hollywood filmmaking and the games industry, Kojima replied that, “120 years ago films were created and at first you had to go to a theater to watch them. Then came the TV. Then came streaming. Gaming will be streaming, too. I think games and movies, in the near future, will come closer. We’re going into an era of new possibilities.”
Death Stranding is due out November 8th for PlayStation 4.
