In a latest interview with IGN, Keanu Reeves supplied a spark of hope that he could return as foul-mouthed rockerboy Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2, the at present in preproduction follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077. That is removed from a affirmation, although, and the unique recreation’s many ending permutations complicate the character’s potential return.
Requested if he’d be prepared to reprise the character in Cyberpunk 2—previously codenamed Undertaking Orion—Reeves mentioned: “Completely, I would like to play Johnny Silverhand once more.” And that is it, that is all he mentioned on the matter. Nevertheless it’s greater than we had beforehand, and it additionally raises questions as to how CDPR may proceed his story.
A really distant risk is reflecting Cyberpunk 2077 selections by way of Witcher or Mass Impact-style save importing, however that does not really feel like an excellent match. 2077 was a really private, self-contained story, one the place placing in that effort does not significantly really feel value it. That is additionally earlier than you take into account that we probably will not even see Cyberpunk 2 earlier than 2030—10 years after Cyberpunk 2077’s launch—and that it might be a fairly loopy ask to chop Keanu Reeves a examine for content material not all gamers will see.
Extra probably could be an look by way of some sort of flashback or braindance (Cyberpunk’s VR reminiscence playback)-related cameo, and even the existence of a second “assemble” or digital copy of Johnny, just like the one we see in 2077.
Revisiting the character by way of different media, just like the Edgerunners anime, additionally looks like a wise route, both as a substitute of or along with a Cyberpunk 2 look. That is all simply angels dancing on the top of a pin, although, barring an official announcement from Reeves or CD Projekt.
I used to be all the time taken with Reeves’ efficiency in 2077: He is with you thru your complete recreation, offering the commentary and character of an RPG companion with out bumbling in your approach like they so usually do in first particular person RPGs.
I likened him to an asshole Greek Refrain in my evaluate of the Phantom Liberty enlargement, although he does not appear to have been to everybody’s tastes. Silverhand hater and former PCG editor James Davenport dubbed him “John Prick” of their evaluate of the bottom recreation, and even with my love of the character, I gotta concede that is a generationally sick burn.
