The planned sequel toCyberpunk 2077has a seemingly insurmountable problem ahead of it. We know relatively little about theCyberpunksequel, codenamedProject Orion, apart from a recent reveal by setting creator Mike Pondsmith thatit may not take place entirely in Night City. It’s definitely still a long ways away, although we do havetheCyberpunk2.3 updatenow to keep us busy. In that interim, speculation aboutCyberpunk 2077has run wild, and, while little has officially been revealed about the sequel, there are a lot of things about it we’re safe to assume.
CD Projekt Red has undeniably learned fromCyberpunk’s fairly messy launch. With the sequel, it’ll likely aim to capture much of what’s worked about the original game, while leaving behind or refining the elements that caused it issues - in general, that’s how you make a good sequel. Butthere’s an element of the originalCyberpunkthat many of us now take for granted, and CDPR is likely to struggle to make it work - or at least, to make it work to the same extent - as it did in the originalCyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077 Has An Incredible Cast Of Hollywood Superstars
Keanu, Idris, & More
One of the strongest aspects ofCyberpunk 2077is its all-star cast, which any sequel will find difficult to replicate. To begin with, you have Keanu Reeves playing the player’s constant companion Johnny Silverhand. He’s probably the character you see the most of in the game - he appears as part of almost every main story mission, and he’s always popping up in random places to offer commentary.
Then, with the release of thePhantom LibertyDLC,Cyberpunkgot another major celebrity: Idris Elba, who plays FIA agent Solomon Reed, also acts as your companion (and potential enemy) throughout the DLC.
Besides Keanu and Idris,a bunch of celebrities also lent their voices and/or likenesses to cameo characters. Musician Grimes plays in-universe pop star Lizzy Wizzy, while Hideo Kojima briefly appears as himself. These characters aren’t as story-relevant, but their presence is welcome, and it’s always a fun surprise to find someone you recognize.
Keanu Reeves' Role Announcement Basically Broke The Internet
“You’re Breathtaking”
The reveal ofKeanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand was basically marketing goldforCyberpunk 2077. He first appeared to promote the game as part of Xbox’s presentation at the final in-person E3 event (RIP), way back in 2019. When he described the experience of playingCyberpunkas “breathtaking,” an audience member shouted back, “You’re breathtaking,” to which a visibly amused Keanu replied, “You’re breathtaking!”
For whatever reason,this weird, off-the-cuff exchange grew into a bit of a meme, often associated with the “wholesome” content of Keanu interacting with fans around the same time. He was (and still is) in the midst of a career renaissance, owing largely to the popularity of theJohn Wickseries - for a few months there, it seemed like he was everywhere. But the result was some pretty great free press forCyberpunk, something it wouldn’t have gotten with any other actor in Keanu’s place.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel Needs To Excel In Casting
But Who Will They Cast?
Whatever comes ofCyberpunk 2077, fans are expecting a good cast. The problem is, though, thatyou can’t just recast Keanu- as nice as it’d be to see him in another game, his appearance would be old hat.
Plus,I doubtCyberpunk’s sequel will have anything to do with Johnny Silverhand, or at least, it shouldn’t. His story is well-explored and wrapped up by the end ofCyberpunk 2077- to put him in a sequel would only feel forced.
Not Many Celebrities Are As Loved As Keanu
Cyberpunk’s Sequel Has A Tough Choice Ahead
So, theCyberpunksequel has a bit of a problem. Who can they cast that’ll be as perfect for the setting and as helpful to the marketing as Keanu Reeves? The answer is, unfortunately, no one. The “breathtaking” interaction was a lucky, lightning-in-a-bottle moment that CDPR will never be able to recreate - and if it tries, it’ll only feel forced. I can’t think of anyone else who has that kind of reputation.
Someone like Danny DeVito would be fun, but he doesn’t fit in theCyberpunksetting. There’s a world in which Samuel L. Jackson fills that niche, which would admittedly be pretty cool - but I’m not sure whether he’ll take on the role. But either way, it’ll be hard forCyberpunk 2077’s sequel to fill Keanu’s shoes, and that could leave it feeling a little empty.
