Celebrity appearances in video games can be quite polarizing, but sometimes they just click perfectly. Think Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis in Expedition 33, or the incredible duo of Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba in Cyberpunk 2077. For Mike Pondsmith, the visionary creator of the Cyberpunk universe, casting Reeves – known as “the nicest guy on earth” – to portray the “incredible jerk” Johnny Silverhand was initially an ironic choice. Yet, Pondsmith has clearly fallen for Reeves’ portrayal of the rebellious rockstar and is keen to see him return for the highly anticipated sequel.
“It was truly strange to me that the nicest person on the planet was playing such an incredible jerk,” Pondsmith shared during a recent CD Projekt Red stream. He humorously added, “If my daughter brought Johnny Silverhand home as her new boyfriend, I’d be torn between shooting her, him, or both, just to avoid the ensuing chaos.” Despite these initial thoughts, he conceded, “But he’s excellent as Silverhand, and he genuinely enjoys the role! I never imagined he’d play another Cyberpunk character, but I believe he landed the perfect one.”
Pondsmith elaborated on his appreciation for the performance: “His Johnny has genuinely grown on me; I adore how he interprets the character.” He pointed out that Johnny isn’t just a simple “jerk”; rather, “he possesses underlying qualities that suggest he could be a better person. That surprised me, but I liked it. It truly worked.”
(A video discussing Johnny Silverhand’s character and Keanu Reeves’ performance was featured here.)
Adding to the star power, Pondsmith was initially unaware that Idris Elba had been cast as Solomon Reed in the Phantom Liberty expansion. He recounted asking CD Projekt Red if they might face legal issues because the character bore a striking resemblance to Elba. “And they responded, ‘It is Idris.’ What?! So, let me get this straight: you secured Keanu Reeves, then Idris Elba – who’s next, Scarlett Johansson? Scarlett, I’ve got roles for you; you can do anything!” he exclaimed with a chuckle.
He emphasized two key takeaways: “Both Reeves and Elba were fantastic fits for their characters. They were actors who truly wanted to embody these roles, and they immersed themselves, doing an outstanding job. Not long ago, I heard that Keanu would be interested in finding a way to bring Johnny back from the dead. I assure you, Keanu, I have ideas for how to make that happen – just reach out!”
(An image of Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077 was featured here.)
While some players might have mixed feelings about Cyberpunk 2077 as a whole, it’s undeniable that Reeves’ performance is truly stellar. He perfectly captures the essence of Johnny – the persistent voice in your head, the one urging you toward questionable actions, and even the petulant side when things don’t go his way. Reeves consistently delivers exceptional performances, but his portrayal of Silverhand stands out as a personal favorite.
If you’re a fan of cruising the gritty streets of Night City to the beat of ‘Good Morning Night City,’ you might enjoy exploring some fantastic community-made modifications to keep your adventures fresh. And for newcomers considering diving into V’s intense saga, be sure to check the game’s updated system requirements; it’s now even playable on the upcoming Switch 2, highlighting just how much has changed!
Are you hoping to see Johnny Silverhand make a comeback in the next Cyberpunk installment? Share your thoughts and tell us which other celebrities you’d love to see with cyberware!