Paramount is developing a live-action Cyberpunk 2077 movie
Paramount is making a live-action movie based on Cyberpunk 2077, the hit video game from Poland's CD Projekt Red. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who produced the Transformers films, is attached, and the game studio will help produce. No director, cast or release date has been named, and it is not known if Keanu Reeves will return.
Cyberpunk 2077 is heading to the big screen. Paramount is developing a live-action film based on the video game, Variety confirmed Thursday. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who produced the Transformers films, is attached to produce. CD Projekt Red, the Polish studio that made the game and holds the rights, will also produce.
The game is set in Night City, a violent, neon-lit city run by giant companies. Players take the role of V, a gun for hire with a chip in their head that holds the digital mind of Johnny Silverhand. Keanu Reeves played Silverhand in the game.
The game had a rough start. It launched in December 2020 after several delays and with widespread performance problems, Variety reported. But it recovered and has sold 40 million copies. Its Phantom Liberty expansion, which stars Idris Elba, sold 15 million more, The Hollywood Reporter said.
The project is at an early stage. No director, cast or release date has been announced, The Statesman reported. It is also unclear whether the film will retell the game's story or tell a new one in the same world. The Playlist guessed it will not reach theaters until 2029 at the earliest.
Fans are already pitching actors. Actor Kyle Gallner, who starred in Smile 2, posted a photo with a buzz cut like V's and wrote, "Take me to night city," IGN Middle East reported.
The film fits a wider plan at Paramount, Hypebeast and Variety noted. The studio is aiming video game movies at older audiences. Its Street Fighter film opens October 16, and Peter Berg is making a Call of Duty movie.
CD Projekt Red also made the anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners for Netflix, set in the same world.
What we know: Paramount and CD Projekt Red are developing the film with di Bonaventura producing.
What we don't: Who will direct or star, and whether Reeves will play Silverhand again.
Where outlets agree Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Hypebeast all report that di Bonaventura will produce with CD Projekt Red and that the game has sold at least 40 million copies.
Where they differ The Hollywood Reporter describes Keanu Reeves's Johnny Silverhand as a mercenary, while Variety says the gun for hire is the player's character, V, and Silverhand is a rock star and criminal.