Norman need not worry, though, as Hideo Kojima has publicly responded to the rumours with a simple tweet. The tweet consists of a handful of photographs of the pair appearing to celebrate Reedus’ work on series, The Walking Dead, accompanied by the caption “Go to your private room, my friend.” Paired with a cute thumbs up and a heart eyes emoji to boot, there’s no mistaking that the pair clearly have a friendship like no other.
While the tweet does not explicitly mention Reedus’ interview responses, there’s certainly room to insinuate that Kojima is getting at something. In Death Stranding, a private room is where protagonist Sam Bridges (played by Norman Reedus) retreats when they need to rest and recuperate. Additionally, Reedus’ interview with Leo Edit was intended to primarily focus on his role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead before he made mention to Death Stranding 2. So, the photo and caption combination certainly make discreet reference to the interview. In light-hearted, Hideo Kojima fashion, it appears this is the developer and author’s way of publicly giving his friend a light slap on the wrist. It’s clear to see that while there won’t be much of a surprise over a Death Stranding 2 announcement, Hideo Kojima doesn’t seem too annoyed at Reedus’ for leaking the project prematurely.
