Death Stranding: Keanu Reeves Could Have Starred In It

One of the main celebrity characters in Hideo Kojima's upcoming PlayStation 4 game Death Stranding is played by Hannibal and Casino Royale actor Mads Mikkelsen. As it turns out, the actor wasn't the first big name pitched for the role, it seems.

During a San Diego Comic-Con panel this weekend, Kojima and movie director Nicolas Winding-Refn (a friend of Kojima's, who also has a part in Death Stranding) shared new insight on the much-anticipated and very mysterious game. Among other revelations, Kojima said The Matrix actor Keanu Reeves' name came up in discussions for Death Stranding. "I originally was recommended Keanu Reeves, but I wanted Mads," Kojima said, according to a report from Twitter user Kalai_chik who was in attendance.

It seems Reeves is an in-demand actor for video game roles. Polish CD Projekt Red enlisted him for a major role in Cyberpunk 2077. Reeves is having a big year all around, as he starred in John Wick 3, had a memorable cameo in Netflix's Always Be My Maybe, and voiced a new character in Toy Story 4. He's currently filming Bill & Ted Face the Music.

Also during the Death Stranding Comic-Con panel, Kojima spoke at a high level about what the game is all about, and well, it still doesn't make all that much sense.

"You're alone playing as Sam (Norman Reedus); you're trying to connect city to city. I can't speak much but everyone will be playing around the world and we'll have an indirect connections," he said. "I'm an Otaku and I felt like my teachers and family didn't understand me. I came to SDCC 10 years ago and met a lot of people like me, so I think that's what you'll get from this game."

Death Stranding also features characters played by James Bond actress Lea Seydoux as Fragile; Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress Margaret Qualley plays Mama, while The Last of Us actor Troy Baker portrays Higgs. The Bionic Woman actress Lindsay Wagner plays Amelie, while Guillermo del Toro plays Deadman

A recent report said Death Stranding could come to PS5, but that has not yet been announced. For now, it will be coming to PS4 only on November 8. Pre-orders are now live, and the game's various special editions--including a $200 collector's edition--has been unveiled.