6 Years Later, Keanu Reeves Might be Officially Reprising His Second Greatest Role

Keanu Reeves has played plenty of legends, but only a few roles have truly defined him. Neo from The Matrix will always sit at the top. It changed action cinema forever and turned Reeves into a sci-fi icon. But right behind it, there’s a strong case for a role that didn’t even come from a movie. It is his role as Johnny Silverhand from Cyberpunk 2077.

Ever since Reeves walked onto the E3 2019 stage, Silverhand has been a phenomenon. The chrome-armed rockstar and terrorist became the soul of CD Projekt Red‘s game, and “Wake up, Samurai” turned into an internet meme overnight.

Sure, John Wick fans may disagree, but Silverhand let Reeves play something he rarely gets to. The character is a loud, selfish, broken anti-hero who grows into something better. Now, six years after the game’s 2020 release, Paramount is developing a live-action Cyberpunk 2077 movie, and fans are hoping Reeves will plug back in.

Keanu Reeves Wants to Star in a Cyberpunk 2077 Movie

Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077 | Credits: CD Projekt Red

If there’s one actor who never got tired of his video game role, it’s Keanu Reeves. His love for Johnny Silverhand goes back to the very beginning. While recording the game, he reportedly enjoyed the character so much that he asked CD Projekt Red for more scenes, which led to his role being expanded (via The Latin Times).

Even years later, during a Reddit AMA to promote John Wick: Chapter 4, he couldn’t stop gushing about Silverhand and the studio behind him (via Outsider Gaming). He returned to the role for the Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023, and he still isn’t done.

While promoting Good Fortune in 2025, Reeves was asked by IGN if he’d play Silverhand again. His answer was instant, as he shared, “Absolutely. I’d love to play Johnny Silverhand again.” It is pretty clear that he isn’t ready to let go of Johnny, no matter the format.

The franchise’s creator seems to agree. Mike Pondsmith, who created the original Cyberpunk tabletop game, once admitted that Reeves’ involvement made a live-action adaptation “much more of a possibility.” More recently, he even told Reeves during a livestream, “I have ways to do that, Keanu, contact me.” So, a movie return doesn’t sound so far-fetched anymore.

What We Know About Paramount’s Live-Action Cyberpunk 2077

A still from Cyberpunk 2077 | Credits: CD Projekt

According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures is now developing a live-action film set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the producer behind the Transformers films, is attached to produce, and he’ll be working alongside CD Projekt Red, which owns the franchise.

It’s not yet known if the movie will adapt the 2020 game’s story or tell a brand-new one in the same world. There’s little doubt that the franchise is big enough to pull it off. Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 40 million copies, while Phantom Liberty has crossed 15 million.

It’s also part of Paramount’s growing push into video game adaptations. The studio’s Street Fighter movie, co-produced with Legendary, hits theaters on October 16, and a Call of Duty film is in the works with Peter Berg directing and co-writing alongside Taylor Sheridan. No cast has been announced yet, but if Silverhand shows up, there’s only one person fans will accept in that role.

What do you think of Reeves’ possible appearance? Let us know in the comments below!