Cyberpunk 2077 is set to get a sequel, and while the follow-up is still in very early stages of development, there is already plenty of speculation surrounding the project. Codenamed Project Orion, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is years away at this point, but that hasn’t stopped Johnny Silverhand actor Keanu Reeves from expressing his excitement regarding the game.
Speaking with IGN, Reeves stated, “Absolutely. I’d love to play Johnny Silverhand again.” While this is far from a confirmation of his return in Project Orion, it’s definitely intriguing to see that he’s so willing to reprise the role. Keanu’s performance as Johnny Silverhand was a standout part of Cyberpunk 2077, and plenty of fans would welcome his return. As exciting as Johnny Silverhand in Project Orion could be, there are also some downsides to bringing the character back.
Cyberpunk 2077’s Sequel Bringing Johnny SIlverhand Back is a Double-Edged Sword
Trying to Capture Lightning in a Bottle Twice
Right now, CD Projekt Red hasn’t offered any major details about Project Orion’s story, but it’s unlikely that V will return as the game’s protagonist. Making V the main character again would force a canon ending to be chosen, which could be controversial. A fresh start is likely the best path forward, as it would allow players to build a completely new character with a blank slate. Considering that V and Johnny go hand-in-hand, it may simply not make sense to bring the latter back, unless V has some kind of cameo.
It’s possible that someone could have somehow figured out how to copy Johnny Silverhand’s Engram and insert it in whoever the next protagonist is, if not V, but that also runs the risk of being lazy. If Project Orion wants to recreate a version of the V/Johnny dynamic, doing so with a brand-new duo would be far more exciting. Bringing back Johnny Silverhand in the same way could rob players of a new unique partnership.
Keanu’s performance as Johnny Silverhand was a standout part of Cyberpunk 2077, and plenty of fans would welcome his return.
Project Orion Could Showcase the Real-Life Johnny Silverhand Again
Cyberpunk 2077 has already featured a memory of Johnny’s with the “Never Fade Away” questline, and Project Orion could potentially do so again. Of course, this time around, it wouldn’t be shown via an Engram, but if Johnny is going to have any kind of cameo in Project Orion, then some sort of flashback may be the only way to make it not feel forced. It’s unclear what the reasoning for this flashback could be, though. Perhaps there’s a questline that requires players to research Johnny’s history, but this is purely speculation.
Project Orion is Bound to Stay a Mystery for a Long Time
While the excitement is already mounting for Project Orion, it will likely be years before CD Projekt Red is ready to shed light on the sequel’s greater details. There’s also a real possibility that Project Orion isn’t connected to Cyberpunk 2077 in any way at all. A completely fresh cast could step into the spotlight, not to mention it might be set in a different year. There is also already speculation that Project Orion could even venture outside Night City.
Theories about Project Orion have suggested the introduction of a Moon colony and a run-down dystopian version of Chicago.
As CD Projekt Red is busy working on The Witcher 4, only time will tell when Project Orion will be revealed. After Cyberpunk 2077‘s 2.3 update, more updates to the first game may arrive before the sequel is revealed, and until then, these patches hopefully hint at where the series is headed.
Cyberpunk 2077
6/10
- Released
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December 10, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Engine
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REDengine 4
