Summary
Cyberpunk 2077’s anticipated sequel, Project Orion, is currently shrouded in a blanket of mystery. After the various endings ofCyberpunk 2077pretty much sealed protagonist V’s fate definitively, Project Orion will likely feature an all-new protagonist in the driver’s seat.
A major plot point of V’s story wasthe introduction of Johnny Silverhand. A digital replica of the deceased rockstar was uploaded to an engram which eventually found its way into V’s head, bonding the two in a futuristic version of a parasitic relationship. The concept of Johnny Silverhand was fascinating enough, and a huge draw for the character is his portrayal by beloved actor, Keanu Reeves. This was a great way to ignite some serious hype forCyberpunk 2077, but Project Orion has a big choice to make when it comes to recycling this approach.
The Case For and Against Repeating the Johnny Silverhand Formula
In Favor of Featuring a New Johnny Silverhand
When mentioning the possibility of featuring a new Johnny Silverhand, it’s more about the concept than the actual character. CD Projekt Red chose a bold approach in using a major movie star as a face to represent the game in its marketing, and it was pulled off pretty well. The first footage of Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand that debuted at E3 in 2019 set the gaming world into a frenzy of excitement.Cyberpunk 2077’s sequelcould take this even further, making this a tradition for the franchise.
It seems like CD Projekt Red has actually already started this pattern, which means it’s likely to continue with Project Orion.Cyberpunk 2077’s DLC,Phantom Liberty, introduced actor Idris Elba to the series.Elba’s portrayal of Solomon Reedmarked another huge star coming into the fold, so it may feel strange for Project Orion to completely forego the trend that CD Projekt Red has made for itself withCyberpunk 2077.
Project Orion has officially entered the early stages of development.
The Argument Against Another Johnny Silverhand
If Project Orion features another mega-star to play the protagonist’s companion, not only does it run the risk of feeling unoriginal, but the character also needs to live up to Keanu Reeves' performance as Silverhand. When it comes towhat’s next for theCyberpunk 2077franchise, it may be best to surprise audiences with a completely different approach to its protagonist and companions. Constantly bringing huge stars into the game could begin to feel like a gimmick instead of actually adding something necessary to the story.
Keanu Reeves was a fantastic spokesperson forCyberpunk 2077at the beginning, but now that the game has grown into a successful property, Project Orion may not need that level of star power in order to generate hype. Recycling the same marketingtactics for Project Orioncould come off as cheap at this point. This style of marketing for the sequel runs the risk of making it look like CD Projekt Red isn’t confident in its product and is instead relying on the faces of celebrities to sell the game.
Whateverdecisions CD Projekt Red makeswith Project Orion, the developers will really need to go all out if a new version of Johnny SIlverhand is attempted. Keanu Reeves knocked it out of the park with his performance, so any celebrity who has to step in his shoes has a high bar to reach.
