‘Death Stranding’ Almost Had Keanu Reeves In It

Famed video game creator Hideo Kojima revealed that before he could cast Mads Mikkelsen for “Death Stranding,” another popular actor was recommended to him: Keanu Reeves.

Speaking to a huge crowd of excited attendees at the Master Storyteller panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, famed video game creator Hideo Kojima, maker of the hit “Metal Gear Solid” series of games, said he “originally was recommended Keanu Reeves, but I wanted Mads.” This is according to tweets coming from Kalai Chik (via WCCFTech), a writer who attended the event.

This was before writer, director and producer Nicolas Winding Refn joined him on the stage. Refn, director of the Pusher movies that also starred Mikkelsen, plays the role of the elusive Heartman in “Death Stranding.”

Of course, everybody should know by now that Keanu Reeves will be playing a huge role in CD Projekt Red’s big title, “Cyberpunk 2077.” Not as many people knew that he was being considered for another role in another big title -- that is, until Kojima revealed that he was recommended to him.

Not like others

While some might think that “Death Stranding” will be just another title featuring popular names in the TV and movie industry, it’s not. Although it features names the likes of Mikkelsen, Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”), Guillermo Del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), Lea Seydoux (“Spectre”) and Troy Baker (Joel from “The Last Of Us”), it’s a totally different game.

During the panel, Kojima was asked as to why he chose to create a game that’s different from other titles. While he did say that it would’ve been easier for him to create “a game where everyone is on an island and shoots each other” (an apparent swipe at the battle royale genre), he said “There’s no reason to create something that’s already there.”

He said he decided to make “Death Stranding” as creative as possible because “I want to create something that gives more inspiration to the world.” He said he believes that creativity moves people forward. Algorithms have limited the kind of creativity people have today, and he said it’s important to counter that because creativity is an “individual experience.”

“Death Stranding” will be released on Nov. 8, 2019 for the PlayStation 4. Kojima also revealed the game’s box art as well as the steelcase design during the panel.