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

Hideo Kojima has shared that he cast Margaret Qualley as Mama in Death Stranding after being impressed by her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed Kenzo fragrance advertisement. On April 25, Kojima took to Twitter to share the viral commercial, stating, "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding."

The advertisement features Qualley dancing energetically to a bass-heavy track, reminiscent of Fat Boy Slim's iconic "Weapon of Choice" video, which showcased Christopher Walken's dancing prowess. In the game, Qualley portrays Mama, also known as Målingen, a brilliant scientist within the United Cities of America who, alongside her twin sister Lockne (also played by Qualley), develops the Chiral Network. This network is crucial for Bridges, facilitating instant data transfer across their communication systems.

The Kenzo fragrance ad captures Qualley in a unique dance routine, characterized by shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers, showcasing a struggle to control her movements. This captivating 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

Fans were quick to react, with one calling Kojima a "visionary," while another humorously remarked, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Kojima is actively working on several 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 developing a PlayStation-exclusive action espionage project.