Keanu Reeves, the beloved actor, has expressed a keen interest in reprising his role as Johnny Silverhand in the upcoming Cyberpunk 2. However, given the character’s significant story arc in Cyberpunk 2077, many wonder how this could logically happen. Intriguingly, Mike Pondsmith, the original creator of the Cyberpunk universe, has confirmed he has a solution, directly telling Reeves: “contact me.”
Back in September, during an interview to promote his film Good Fortune, Reeves had publicly stated his desire to return to Night City. “Absolutely. I’d love to play Johnny Silverhand again,” he affirmed, expressing his enthusiasm for the iconic rockstar terrorist role in the sequel to CD Projekt’s 2020 game.
Reeves’s connection with the Cyberpunk community is well-known, stemming from his “you’re breathtaking” moment at E3 2019. While on stage announcing the release date for Cyberpunk 2077, a fan’s enthusiastic shout was met with Reeves’s equally wholesome reply: “you’re breathtaking… you’re all breathtaking!” This instantly became a viral internet sensation, cementing his legendary status among gamers.
The crucial question remains: is it truly feasible for Johnny Silverhand to return in Cyberpunk 2, considering the definitive events of Cyberpunk 2077? The game’s narrative offered various conclusions for Johnny and V’s shared journey.
Warning! Spoilers for Cyberpunk 2077 follow:
Depending on which ending CD Projekt chooses to make canon for Cyberpunk 2, there might indeed be avenues for Reeves’s character to reappear. Perhaps Johnny could make a cameo, having been uploaded or transferred into another entity. Alternatively, if a specific ending is canonized, V might conceptually or physically transform into Johnny Silverhand. Another possibility could involve Johnny featuring in flashbacks, similar to how he appeared throughout Cyberpunk 2077, showcasing events predating the first game.
It appears Mike Pondsmith has been actively contemplating these possibilities since Reeves’s public declaration. During a recent CD Projekt livestream celebrating Cyberpunk 2077‘s fifth anniversary, Pondsmith confidently stated: “Not that long ago, I saw that Keanu would like to find a way to come back from the dead and play Johnny again. I have ways to do that, Keanu. Contact me.”
Understandably, Pondsmith refrained from divulging the specifics of these “ways,” but fan theories already abound, offering various plausible scenarios for Johnny’s return.
Keanu Reeves isn’t the only major Hollywood talent to grace Cyberpunk 2077. Idris Elba also delivered a memorable performance in the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion. Pondsmith expressed his delight at Elba’s involvement, even humorously recounting his initial concern that CD Projekt might face legal action because the character resembled Elba so closely, before realizing it actually *was* Elba.
“’So let me get this straight,’” Pondsmith recounted his reaction upon learning the news. “’You got Keanu Reeves, and then you turn around and get Idris Elba. What’s next? Scarlett Johansson?’”
He playfully added, “Scarlett, you know, I have roles for you. You can do anything.”
Whether Scarlett Johansson will join the cast of Cyberpunk 2 remains to be seen. However, Pondsmith has previously offered glimpses into the highly anticipated sequel. In May, he subtly revealed new details about Project Orion (the working title for Cyberpunk 2) at the Digital Dragons 2025 conference.
Pondsmith mentioned that his direct involvement is less extensive this time, but he continues to review scripts and visit CD Projekt to oversee the ongoing development.
“Last week I was wandering around talking to different departments, and seeing what they had, ‘Oh look, this is the new cyberware, what do you think?’ ‘Oh yeah, that’s pretty good, that works here.’”
The most intriguing revelation concerned the sequel featuring a *new* city, in addition to the familiar Night City from Cyberpunk 2077. Pondsmith characterized this new urban landscape as “like Chicago gone wrong.”
“I spent a lot of time talking to one of the environment guys, and he was explaining how the new place in Orion, because there’s another city we visit — I’m not telling you any more than that but there’s another city we visit. And Night City is still there. But I remember looking at it and going, yeah I understand the feel you’re going for this, and this really does work. And it doesn’t feel like Blade Runner, it feels more like Chicago gone wrong. I said, ‘Yeah, I can see this working.'”
It’s important to clarify that Pondsmith’s remarks don’t definitively confirm a future Chicago as the new setting; rather, it suggests a city with a similar dystopian, “gone wrong” aesthetic. The exact nature of this new city and how much it will expand upon or replace Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 remains a topic of speculation.
However, fans will likely have a considerable wait. CD Projekt is currently prioritizing development for The Witcher 4, and co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has indicated that Cyberpunk 2 might not see release until at least 2030.
This article was originally published by Wesley Yin-Poole, Director, News at IGN. Photo credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.