Margaret Qualley Joins Death Stranding After Bizarre Perfume Ad Dance

Hideo Kojima, renowned game creator, has unveiled that he cast Margaret Qualley as Mama in Death Stranding after being captivated 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 executing a dynamic dance routine set to a pulsating bass track, reminiscent of the iconic Fat Boy Slim video "Weapon of Choice," which showcased Christopher Walken's dancing prowess. In the Kenzo ad, Qualley's performance is a blend of controlled chaos, with movements that include shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers. Her dance also portrays a struggle to control her limbs, making for a captivating and unusual display. You can view the full performance 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

In Death Stranding, Qualley embodies the character Mama — Målingen — a brilliant scientist within the United Cities of America. Alongside her twin sister Lockne, also portrayed by Qualley, they are credited with developing the Chiral Network, a pivotal communications system for Bridges that enables instantaneous data transfer.

Fans on social media responded enthusiastically to Kojima's revelation. One fan praised, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously remarked, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Kojima is currently engaged in multiple high-profile projects. These include Death Stranding 2, set to release on June 26, 2025, a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, the Xbox-published game OD, which Kojima describes as "a game I have always wanted to make," and an exclusive action espionage project for PlayStation.