Margaret Qualley Joins Death Stranding Cast After Bizarre Perfume Ad Dance

Hideo Kojima recently disclosed that he cast Margaret Qualley in the role of Mama for the game Death Stranding after being impressed 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 engaging in a dynamic dance routine set to a bass-heavy track reminiscent of Fat Boy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" video, which starred Christopher Walken. In the Kenzo ad, Qualley's performance includes shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers, showcasing a unique and captivating choreography.

In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama, also known as Målingen, a key member of Bridges and a brilliant scientist in the United Cities of America. Alongside her twin sister, Lockne, whom Qualley also plays, she is instrumental in developing the Chiral Network, a crucial communication system that enables instant data transfer across the game's world.

Kojima's tweet about the advertisement sparked a variety of responses from fans. One praised his visionary approach, saying, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously remarked, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Hideo Kojima is involved in multiple projects, including Death Stranding 2, set to release on June 26, 2025, a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, and OD, an Xbox-published game described by Kojima as "a game I have always wanted to make." Additionally, he is working on a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project.

You can watch the full, intriguing 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