Hideo Kojima has offered a closer look at PHYSINT, revealing more about its cast, production, and creative direction following the project's unexpected change in publishing partners. Speaking on the latest episode of the returning KOJI10 podcast, Kojima discussed his work with lead actor Bill Skarsgård, his on-screen chemistry with Charlee Fraser, and several other performers he hopes to bring into the project.
Skarsgård has already completed his character scan, but the actor is apparently eager to move further into the role. Although the game's story is already planned, Kojima has yet to give him the full dialogue he needs to understand exactly how his character will speak and behave. Kojima said he had wanted to work with Skarsgård for years, having admired both the actor and his family. Their introduction came through musician Woodkid, who is involved with Death Stranding 2. Skarsgård had visited Woodkid's studio and noticed Kojima Productions merchandise, eventually learning about their connection.
It turned out that Skarsgård was already a longtime fan of Kojima's games, dating back to the original Metal Gear. After meeting in Japan and later Sweden, Kojima pitched PHYSINT to him, and Skarsgård eventually agreed to take on the still-unnamed lead role. Kojima also consulted Sophia Lillis, who knows Skarsgård from IT. Her positive recommendation further encouraged him to cast the actor.
For now, however, PHYSINT remains in the early stages of production. Skarsgård, Fraser, and Minami Hamabe have completed their scans, while Don Lee has yet to be scanned. Kojima expects to continue bringing additional performers into the process this year and next.
The recently released photo of Skarsgård and Fraser also isn't representative of the characters' final costumes. According to Kojima, the clothing was primarily used to help the team study fabric, wrinkles, folds, and lighting. The final designs could look considerably different. Kojima personally took the photograph and also filmed a short camera test with the actors. He emphasized that the chemistry between the performers will be an important part of the finished experience.
There are apparently plenty of other names being considered, too. Kojima showed the podcast hosts a confidential casting list, which reportedly generated an enthusiastic reaction. He has not revealed the identities publicly, and some of the actors on the list have not yet formally committed.
Kojima said roughly 70 percent of the performers currently being considered are fans of his work, while others have approached him about joining the project. He also emphasized that he personally contacts actors and pitches his games to them. For Kojima, those relationships are about more than simply having famous names attached to a project. With game development taking years, he believes everyone involved needs to share a genuine commitment to the work.
While PHYSINT's espionage setting naturally invites comparisons to Metal Gear, Kojima is keen to make one thing clear: players shouldn't expect a simple return to the formula he established with Konami's series. He said PHYSINT will explore new ideas and a different approach to spy action, describing the game as “quite different” from Metal Gear. Kojima did not reveal specific gameplay details, but his comments suggest that the similarities between the two projects may end largely with their shared interest in espionage and cinematic storytelling.
The update comes after PHYSINT underwent a major change behind the scenes. Sony reportedly withdrew its funding for the project, with Kojima saying he learned about the decision during a June Zoom call and was not given a reason. Xbox subsequently stepped in as the project's publisher, reportedly agreeing to a significantly smaller deal than Sony had originally planned. Reports from Bloomberg linked the breakdown to concerns surrounding deadlines, budget, and plans for a multiplatform release. Kojima Productions has urged fans to approach those reports cautiously, maintaining that the studio remains healthy and profitable. Journalist Jason Schreier has since stood by the reporting, saying negotiations had continued for months around deadlines and the project's broader direction.
PHYSINT wasn't the only project discussed during the podcast. Kojima also provided an update on OD, his horror game being developed with Jordan Peele. Production has been underway since June after a roughly year-long SAG strike forced the team to rebuild its schedule. Filming is expected to continue through the end of the year, with some additional dialogue work extending into 2027. Development is happening alongside filming, with temporary performances gradually being replaced by recordings from the final cast. Kojima also explained how several of OD's actors came aboard. Jordan Peele helped direct him toward Sophia Lillis after other casting options became difficult because of scheduling conflicts. After watching her performance as Doric in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Kojima decided she was right for the role.
Hunter Schafer joined through a connection with Norman Reedus, while filmmaker Guillermo del Toro helped introduce Kojima to the late actor Udo Kier. Kojima also spoke emotionally about Kier's death and attending his funeral in January. Kier had been looking forward to OD and had already completed three days of scanning for the project. Kojima did not explain how the game will ultimately handle his role. Despite revealing more about the production, Kojima remains determined to keep OD itself largely mysterious. He described the project as an attempt to explore the critical point of fear and said he wants players to experience that feeling with as little advance information as possible.That approach is unusual for Kojima, who has traditionally embraced lengthy teaser campaigns and carefully constructed reveals. This time, he would rather let the game speak for itself when it is finally ready.
