Death Stranding: Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn Don't Play Their Own Characters

From movie making to deepfaking.

Yesterday's Death Stranding
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Death Stranding - PlayStation 4
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trailer confirmed the appearances of both Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn in Hideo Kojima's next game. But they really are, quite literally, just that: appearances.

In a tweet, Kojima explained that Winding Refn has had his face and body scanned for the game's Heartman character, but that another actor is responsible for animating and voicing him. The same process has been applied to del Toro.

In essence, two currently unknown actors are wearing the digital skins of some of the world's most notable movie directors. It sounds more like a Kojima plot point than a development tool.

It's a process we're more used to seeing in movies - Peter Cushing's Grand Moff Tarkin was played behind a CGI mask by Guy Henry in Rogue One, for example.
A lot's emerged since yesterday's enormous new release date trailer, from pre-order bonuses to previously unknown gameplay mechanics.

And it's not even that much longer to wait - Death Stranding will be released on PS4 come November 8.
Death Stranding Gameplay Images

Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK Deputy Editor, and he bets Hideo Kojima loves deepfake videos. Follow him on Twitter.

In This Article

Death Stranding Image

Death Stranding

Rated "M"
DeveloperKojima Productions
PublisherSony Computer Entertainment
Release DateNovember 8, 2019
PlatformsPlayStation 4, PC