Johnny Silverhand, the deuteragonist of Cyberpunk 2077 and possibly one of the most recognisable video game characters in recent memory, was allegedly a very different character before Keanu Reeves signed on for the role.
"Wake the f*ck up samurai, we've got a city to burn." We remember it vividly: the electrifying reveal that the Rockerboy would be played by the iconic Keanu Reeves. The actor himself was amped to be a part of the game, owing to his fascination with the genre and his willingness to challenge himself in his career. "It's [about] appropriating and mixing styles and genres-and there's a kind of making your own world to that," he told Vanity Fair last year. "When you get into fantasy and science fiction...a lot of times these stories are antihero stories or about fighting against the system or trying to break something down, or the reluctant hero. I guess as a forming young person, whatever psychologically, I related to that." And, he also added: "Sometimes cyberpunk stuff looks cool."
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Correct. However, sometimes it looks like a complete mess, which was sadly the case for Cyberpunk 2077 on last-gen consoles upon launch. That CD Projekt Red was in a spot of bother, wrangling refund requests, rampant ridicule, and plummeting stock prices would have been a huge understatement then and it still applies now. Even its employees were reportedly overwrought by the fiasco, and aired their aggravation over mismanagement and the half-truths told by the executives to the public. Now, an anonymous employee has popped up on GameFAQs to tell us more about the plans for Cyberpunk 2077's DLCs, but they also revealed a tidbit about the development of Johnny Silverhand, and how the character changed over the course of the eight years.
"I don't want to hate on Keanu, but f***ing hell, our original Johnny was way cooler and sounded like a maniac," they began. "Think Foltest on crack." King Foltest of Temeria, featured in The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, is a vicious ruler whose actions ensure that the nation is the most powerful of the Northern Kingdoms. On the other hand, Johnny Silverhand is volatile, egotistical, and edgy to the nth degree. Of course, Keanu Reeves is none of those things. "He's a very nice man. Walked up to us personally to greet us on the first day and took time to personally thank us one by one when they wrapped up recording," the employee continued.
Yet, this approach to the characterisation of the Rockerboy was a world away from the narrative team's vision. "Our original Johnny was heavily inspired by David Hayter's Solid Snake from the first MGS and believe it or not, Cillian Murphy," said the employee, and explained that the move for a big name to star in Cyberpunk 2077 was instigated from "outside CDPR," possibly meaning investors who wanted to raise the game's profile in the public eye. It worked, absolutely, as the allure of a Hollywood actor is undeniable, and the "you're breathtaking!" moment has a special place in our hearts. Nevertheless, it's interesting to know that there was a contrast between the original characterisation of Johnny and the final version that graced the small screen.
What's Reeves thinking about as the new year picks up the pace? Well, he's offered some wise words, as one might expect of the esteemed actor. "Try and respect others. Try and continue to get the most out of life, and find ways to get that in this situation, but also to respect it. Find ways to connect. If you can. I mean, just ... survive," he said to CinemaBlend. Lovely.
Featured Image Credit: CD Projekt RedTopics: News, Cyberpunk 2077