Margaret Qualley Joins Death Stranding Cast After Bizarre Perfume Ad Dance

Hideo Kojima, the acclaimed game director, recently disclosed that he cast Margaret Qualley for the role of Mama in the groundbreaking video game Death Stranding after being captivated by her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed fragrance advertisement for Kenzo. Kojima shared the influential commercial via a tweet on April 25, 2025, stating, "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding."

The advertisement features Qualley in a dynamic dance sequence reminiscent of Fat Boy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" music video, which famously showcased Christopher Walken's dance skills. In the Kenzo ad, Qualley's performance includes an eclectic mix of movements: shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers, all set to a pulsating bass track. Her unusual yet captivating dance routine, which includes moments where she appears to struggle to control her limbs, was what caught Kojima's eye.

In Death Stranding, Margaret Qualley portrays Mama, officially known as Målingen, a pivotal character who is one of the greatest inventors in the United Cities of America. Alongside her twin sister Lockne, also played by Qualley, they develop the Chiral Network, a crucial communications system for the game's protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, facilitating instantaneous data transfer across the game's world.

Kojima's tweet sparked a range of reactions from fans. One praised him as a visionary, while another humorously suggested they deserved a role in the game for performing similar dance moves daily.

Currently, Kojima is juggling several high-profile projects. Death Stranding 2 is slated for release on June 26, 2025. Additionally, he is collaborating on a live-action Death Stranding film with A24, and working on OD, a new game published by Xbox that Kojima describes as "a game I have always wanted to make." He is also involved in a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project, continuing his legacy of innovative and boundary-pushing work in the gaming industry.

You can watch the full, bizarre, and incredibly entertaining Kenzo fragrance advertisement featuring Margaret Qualley 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