In what might be the smoothest celebrity recruitment pitch ever delivered publicly, Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith just pulled off a masterclass in staying relevant. During CD Projekt Red’s fifth anniversary livestream for Cyberpunk 2077 on November 2, 2025, Pondsmith casually invited Keanu Reeves to pick up the phone and discuss bringing Johnny Silverhand back from the dead for the upcoming sequel. The moment was cheeky, charming, and exactly the kind of industry shakeup fans needed heading into the long wait for Cyberpunk 2.
The Public Phone Call That Broke the Internet
Here’s how it went down. During the CD Projekt livestream, Pondsmith brought up Keanu Reeves’ recent interview with IGN where the actor mentioned he’d absolutely love to return as Johnny Silverhand in a future Cyberpunk project. Most creators would have just nodded politely. But Pondsmith went a different direction. “Not that long ago, I saw that Keanu would like to find a way to come back from the dead and play Johnny again,” Pondsmith said matter of factly. “I have ways to do that, Keanu. Contact me.”
The internet lost it. Immediately, fans were speculating about what Pondsmith’s “ways” could possibly be. Johnny Silverhand’s story arc in Cyberpunk 2077 appears definitively closed – the AI construct either dies, gets uploaded, or disappears into the dark net depending on which ending the player receives. Bringing him back would require some creative narrative gymnastics, but in a world where people store their consciousness as digital code, it’s not impossible. Pondsmith wasn’t giving away any secrets, which made the tease even more effective.
Creative Workarounds for Johnny’s Return
Fans have already theorized several ways Pondsmith could make Johnny’s return work. One possibility is that Johnny somehow digitized himself and is now living in the dark net, ready to make contact with V in Cyberpunk 2 under the right circumstances. Another theory is that Johnny’s consciousness could have been downloaded into someone or something else in the time between 2077 and Cyberpunk 2. There’s also the flashback option – Cyberpunk 2077 featured flashback sequences, so why not flashbacks to Johnny’s rockstar past in the sequel?
The most creative theory involves the different endings of Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt will have to pick which ending is canon for Cyberpunk 2. Depending on which one they choose, Johnny’s fate could be significantly different, opening or closing doors for his return. Whatever Pondsmith has in mind, it’s clearly something he’s been thinking about since Reeves threw his hat in the ring publicly.
Pondsmith Also Wants Scarlett Johansson
But the Keanu exchange wasn’t the only bombshell moment. While discussing celebrity appearances in Cyberpunk games, Pondsmith got playful with his ambitions. “Let me get this straight,” he said. “You got Keanu Reeves, and then you turn around and get Idris Elba. What’s next? Scarlett Johansson?” He then turned his pitch directly to any celebrities watching: “Scarlett, you know, I have roles for you. You can do anything.”
It’s the kind of bold, forward energy that’s increasingly rare in corporate game development. Rather than conducting celebrity recruitment behind closed doors with agent calls and NDAs, Pondsmith was basically live-bidding for talent on a livestream. It worked. The clip went viral instantly, and suddenly everyone’s imagining what role Scarlett Johansson could possibly play in a cyberpunk universe.
Cyberpunk 2 Gets a New City
Beyond the celebrity casting comedy, Pondsmith dropped legitimate news about Cyberpunk 2’s scope. The sequel won’t just be set in Night City again. There’s a whole new city coming that Pondsmith described as “like Chicago gone wrong.” He’d recently visited CD Projekt’s offices and spent time with the environment team seeing what they were working on. “There’s another city we visit – I’m not telling you any more than that but there’s another city we visit. And Night City is still there,” he teased.
The comparison to Chicago is interesting because it suggests something different from the cyberpunk aesthetic most people associate with dystopian futures. Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City has always had a more Los Angeles noir vibe – corporate towers meeting desert scrubland. A Chicago-inspired city would bring industrial decay, different architecture, and a new flavor to the world-building. Pondsmith emphasized that it “doesn’t feel like Blade Runner, it feels more like Chicago gone wrong.”
| Cyberpunk Project | Status | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Released 2020 | Night City setting, Keanu Reeves, millions sold despite rocky launch |
| Phantom Liberty Expansion | Released 2023 | Idris Elba, espionage storyline, well-received |
| Cyberpunk 2 (Project Orion) | In Development | Night City plus new city, Unreal Engine 5, 2030+ release target |
| The Witcher 4 | Priority Project | Launching before Cyberpunk 2, CD Projekt focused here first |
Pondsmith’s Reduced But Still Involved Role
It’s worth noting that Pondsmith plays a different role in Cyberpunk 2 than he did in 2077. He’s less involved day-to-day, but he’s still very much in the loop. He reviews scripts, visits the development studios, and provides input on everything from cyberware design to weapon aesthetics. When CD Projekt showed him some early silver, blaster-like guns that didn’t fit the Cyberpunk aesthetic, Pondsmith had to correct them. Cyberpunk guns aren’t sleek sci-fi weapons – they’re brutal, nasty, black things that look like they’ll hurt you. That’s the philosophy he maintains.
“Part of that was that I was involved in that process all the way,” Pondsmith explained about his involvement with the original game. “Because I was involved in it, what it meant was I could get my input into it and we could adapt and get it closer to what we wanted.” For Cyberpunk 2, he’s taking a lighter touch while ensuring the core vision stays intact.
When Will Cyberpunk 2 Actually Release
Here’s where the hard reality sets in. CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has indicated that Cyberpunk 2 won’t release until at least 2030. That means we’re looking at nearly five years from now, assuming there are no delays. In the meantime, CD Projekt is prioritizing The Witcher 4, which should launch significantly earlier. The studio is ambitious but realistic about what their team can handle, and they’re clearly learning from the chaotic development of Cyberpunk 2077, which had an infamously rough launch before being salvaged through extensive post-release patches.
2030 is a long way off, which is why Pondsmith’s public outreach to celebrities is smart strategy. He’s keeping Cyberpunk in the cultural conversation years before players will even have the game. By November 2025, a sequel that won’t arrive for another five years could easily fade from relevance. But by keeping the hype machine turning with celebrity cameos and new city reveals, CD Projekt keeps people interested and dreaming.
FAQs
Did Mike Pondsmith actually ask Keanu Reeves to contact him?
Yes. During a CD Projekt Red livestream for Cyberpunk 2077’s fifth anniversary on November 2, 2025, Pondsmith publicly invited Keanu Reeves to get in touch about bringing Johnny Silverhand back for Cyberpunk 2. He claimed to have narrative solutions that would allow the character to return.
Is Johnny Silverhand definitely coming back in Cyberpunk 2?
No, it’s not confirmed. Pondsmith said he has “ways” to bring Johnny back, but he didn’t officially confirm the character will appear in Cyberpunk 2. It depends on many factors including which ending of Cyberpunk 2077 becomes canon, Keanu Reeves’ interest in returning, and creative decisions that haven’t been made yet.
What is the new city Pondsmith mentioned?
Cyberpunk 2 will feature a new city in addition to Night City, which Pondsmith described as being like “Chicago gone wrong.” He didn’t reveal the city’s actual name or confirm if it’s literally meant to be a dystopian Chicago or just inspired by that aesthetic.
Is Idris Elba returning in Cyberpunk 2?
Pondsmith mentioned Idris Elba’s successful appearance in Phantom Liberty but didn’t confirm whether he’s returning for Cyberpunk 2. He was using Elba as an example of successful celebrity casting while pitching other actors.
When will Cyberpunk 2 release?
CD Projekt Red hasn’t announced an official release date. CEO Michał Nowakowski has suggested the game won’t launch until at least 2030. The studio is prioritizing The Witcher 4 first, which should release before Cyberpunk 2.
Was Pondsmith serious about wanting Scarlett Johansson?
Pondsmith’s pitch to Scarlett Johansson was playful and probably not a serious casting offer, but it highlighted his approach to celebrity casting – finding actors who actually want to be part of the Cyberpunk world rather than forcing appearances.
How involved is Mike Pondsmith in Cyberpunk 2?
Pondsmith has a less hands-on role in Cyberpunk 2 compared to the original game, but he’s still significantly involved. He reviews scripts, visits the development studios, provides creative feedback, and ensures the game stays true to Cyberpunk’s core philosophy and aesthetic.
Conclusion
Mike Pondsmith’s livestream moment is exactly what the gaming industry needs right now – a creator being playful, confident, and genuinely excited about the future of his franchise. Whether Keanu Reeves actually takes him up on that invitation remains to be seen, but the real message is clear: Cyberpunk 2 is going to be ambitious, star-studded, and visually diverse with multiple cities to explore.
The five-year wait until 2030 is brutal, but at least CD Projekt Red is being transparent about the timeline and using that time to keep fans engaged. When Cyberpunk 2 finally launches, it’ll have had years of world-building hype, celebrity interest, and community speculation fueling the fire. And if Keanu does respond to that “contact me” message, well, then we’re in for something truly special.