It seems that fans aren’t the only ones looking forward to the release of “Cyberpunk 2077” this coming April. Recent reports claim that Keanu Reeves, who will play the rockstar character Johnny Silverhand, can’t get enough either. The wildly popular actor has “pushed” CD Projekt Red into giving him more screen time in the game. Not that the developer has a problem with that.

Reeves’ time in “Cyberpunk 2077” has reportedly been doubled at his request. While it remains to be seen if the game can live up to the massive hype surrounding it, one thing is for sure: More Keanu Reeves can’t be a bad thing.

Rumors Confirmed

News that Reeves asked to have a larger role in “Cyberpunk 2077” first came out of the Lucca 2019 games and comics convention in Italy. Journalist Gian Luca Rocco spoke with Luca Ward, who provides some of the voice acting for Johnny Silverhand. His recording time has reportedly doubled since Reeves pushed to expand his character.


A little bird told me Keanu Reeves loves #Cyberpunk2077 so much that doubled the time his character will appear in the game. Can't wait until April 2020 #videogames #cdprojectred #keanureeves — Gian Luca Rocco (@gianrocco) November 1, 2019

Keanu isn’t exactly short on work. In fact, the Canadian actor should be poised for a busy year as he is slated to reprise his role as Neo in the upcoming “Matrix 4.”

As such, it isn’t a need for stardom or a paycheck that drove Reeves to seek a larger role in the game. Rather, it seems to be a match made in heaven. With a strong background in playing characters set in cyberpunk universes like “The Matrix,” he is a perfect fit with the game. He’s also reportedly enjoying his time in its production to the fullest.

Double the Keanu

Johnny Silverhand is actually some sort of malware brain implant that provides players with instructions and commentary throughout the game. Even so, he’ll also make plenty of physical appearances. If trailers and screenshots are any indication, the stunning graphics will put a lifelike Keanu right into the middle of the game.

Marcin Iwinski, co-CEO of CD Projekt Red, said, “He’s the number two character in terms of lines and spoken text [throughout the entire game]. I think we have around 15-ish days of voice recording in the studio.”

He goes on to say, “You will see a lot of Keanu, you will hear even more of Keanu in the game.”

Not often does a video game get the stardom of a mainstream actor behind it. In fact, CD Projekt Red didn’t even anticipate working with Reeves in such a massive capacity. Nonetheless, the developer wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to harness his talent. Should things go as planned, it will likely help propel “Cyberpunk 2077” to smash-hit status.

According to story director Marcin Blacha, “A good actor, and Keanu is a great actor, will always infuse their character with a bit of their own special thing.”

For now, we’ll anxiously await the April 16, 2020 release of “Cyberpunk 2077” and look forward to a Keanu-heavy title. Until then, check out the official E3 trailer for the game below: