Margaret Qualley Joins Death Stranding Cast After Starring in Unique Perfume Ad

Hideo Kojima recently disclosed that he cast Margaret Qualley in 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 on 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 showcased Christopher Walken's dance moves. In the Kenzo ad, Qualley executes a unique and choreographed dance routine, characterized by shaking, grimacing, and occasional spasms, including a segment where she appears to fire lasers from her fingers. The full, intriguing performance can be viewed 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

In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama, officially 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 serves as Bridges' vital communication system, enabling instant data transfer.

Fans on Twitter responded enthusiastically to Kojima's revelation. One fan praised, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously commented, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Hideo Kojima is engaged in several high-profile projects. Death Stranding 2 is slated for release on June 26, 2025. Additionally, he is working on a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, the Xbox-published game OD, described by Kojima as "a game I have always wanted to make," and a PlayStation-exclusive action espionage project.