Hideo Kojima has revealed that he cast Margaret Qualley in the role of Mama for the video game Death Stranding after being inspired by her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed fragrance advertisement for Kenzo.
In a tweet shared on April 25, Kojima stated: "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding." The advertisement, which went viral, 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.
Qualley portrays the character Mama — Målingen — in *Death Stranding*, developed by Kojima Productions. She is depicted as one of the most innovative scientists in the United Cities of America, instrumental in creating the Chiral Network, a revolutionary communication system for Bridges that enables instant data transfer. Qualley also plays Mama's twin sister, Lockne.The Kenzo fragrance ad showcases Qualley in a unique dance routine, characterized by shakes, grimaces, and spasms, including a segment where she appears to shoot lasers from her fingers. Another part of the performance shows her dancing while seemingly struggling to control her movements. You can watch the full, captivating performance 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's vision, saying, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously commented, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."
Currently, Kojima is involved in several projects, including Death Stranding 2, set to release on June 26, 2025, a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, the Xbox-exclusive game OD, described by Kojima as "a game I have always wanted to make," and an action espionage project exclusive to PlayStation.
