After the success of Death Stranding, Kojima Productions is following it up with a sequel. Gamers got their first glimpse of Death Stranding 2 during 2022’s The Game Awards where a trailer revealed that Fragile and Sam Bridges will be making a return. There is still plenty of mystery surrounding the game, especially because Elle Fanning has been revealed to be one of the performers, though her role has yet to be revealed. Nevertheless, there have been some clues that may reveal who her character will be.
Judging by clues within Death Stranding 2’s trailer and hints left by Kojima, it appears that Fanning may play an older version of Lou. This theory has yet to be officially confirmed, however. Other theories argue that she may play a younger version of Fragile, though this seems far more unlikely.
Lou in Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding is a unique game that has players making deliveries in a dystopian version of America where Beached Things roam the land. These creatures can be hard to detect, but the job is made easier if one has a Bridge Baby with them. Sam’s Bridge Baby, or BB, is Lou, and over the events of the game, Sam develops a strong relationship with the unborn baby. Sam can play with the baby in his Private Room, and the baby helps him stay alive in treacherous situations.
Lou makes an appearance in the Death Stranding 2 reveal trailer, although the fetus is now a toddler. Viewers know that it is Lou because she wears a bib with her name on it. Fragile saves Lou and escapes on a Trike. Following this, gamers get a glimpse of Sam Bridges, who looks considerably older. It is unclear exactly how much time has passed since the first game. It could be a few years, or Sam’s aging could have been sped up by Timefall. Regardless, it appears that Lou will continue to play an important role in Death Stranding 2, as Fragile is willing to risk her life for her.
The Connection Between Lou and Elle Fanning in Death Stranding 2
In 2022, Kojima shared a poster featuring Fanning’s face, and another poster featuring Deadpool 2 actress Shioli Kutsuna. Though it has since been confirmed that Fanning will appear in Death Stranding 2, nothing is officially known about what her role entails. Nevertheless, there have been some clues dropped. On Twitter, Kojima shared images of Fanning doing various poses for motion capture. Some keen-eyed fans noticed that the poses Fanning is doing are the same poses Lou makes in Death Stranding. This has fueled the theory that she may play an older version of Lou in the sequel.
Yet another clue recently came on Kojima’s Brain Structure podcast when Fanning was a guest. During the podcast, journalist Geoff Keighley revealed that Fanning was chosen because Kojima is a big fan of hers, and Death Stranding 2 will center on her character. This lends more credence to the theory that she may play an older version of Lou, who has already been shown to be important to the sequel.
Despite all the clues, gamers still know very little about the upcoming game, including when it will be released. According to some sources, gamers shouldn’t expect Death Stranding 2 until 2024. It has been confirmed for PS5, though if it follows the pattern of its predecessor, it should find its way to PC eventually.
Death Stranding 2 is currently in development for PS5.
