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 Kenzo fragrance advertisement.
On April 25, Kojima shared the viral commercial via Twitter, stating: "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding." The advertisement features Qualley dancing to a bass-heavy track, reminiscent of Fat Boy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" video, which starred Christopher Walken.
In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama, also known as Målingen, a pivotal member of Bridges and one of the most innovative scientists in the United Cities of America. Alongside her twin sister Lockne, also played by Qualley, she developed the Chiral Network, a revolutionary communications system facilitating instant data transfer.
The Kenzo fragrance ad showcases Qualley in an unconventional dance routine, characterized by shakes, grimaces, and spasms, including a segment where she appears to fire lasers from her fingers. Another part of her performance depicts her struggling to control her movements. You can view the full, captivating, and highly entertaining advertisement 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 were quick to respond to Kojima's tweet. One fan praised, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously remarked, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."
Currently, Kojima is working on several high-profile projects. Death Stranding 2 is set to release on June 26, 2025, and he's also involved in a live-action Death Stranding film with A24. Additionally, he's collaborating on OD, an Xbox-published game described as "a game I have always wanted to make," and a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project.
