Welp, Cyberpunk 2077 is getting a live-action adaptation! With the plethora of Hollywood adaptations of video games these days, this is one of those bits of news that has me thinking, “wait, that wasn’t already a thing?” Apparently not!
In any case, this adaptation is coming from Paramount, or I guess Skydance as of this week, sort of, as reported by Deadline. Developer CD Projekt Red will be producing the film, of course, but it also has Lorenzo di Bonaventura attached to it as a producer; you’ll know him best for doing the same on all of the live action Transformers films, as well as hits including Madame Web. Consider my confidence inspired! He even did the 2005 Dwayne “The Rock “Pees In Water Bottles On Set”” Johnson Doom film. Well, perhaps they’ll get a good director attached to the Cyberpunk film at least.
In a statement on Dwitter, co-CEO Michał Nowakowski said, “We’re excited about Paramount as a future partner who shares our creative ambitions for the Cyberpunk franchise. We look forward to sharing more details at the appropriate time.” That’s pretty much your lot on details for the film. I’m sure plenty of people will be speculating about casting, given the big name talent the game already has in Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba. The latter did say he’d be interested in doing a live action adaptation with Reeves (who he plays alongside in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, another Paramount joint), so it’s possible at least.
This does leave me wondering how Skydance will be handling games going forward. Paramount acquiring Warner Bros. has netted them a whole lot of big name games, and Variety reported that the two companies’ respective games divisions will be fused into one to oversee projects based on the likes of Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rick and Morty, the DC Universe, Games of Thrones, and, as the only actual game, Mortal Kombat. Once again, my confidence is inspired.
I’m not particularly keen on game adaptations just being this thing to fuel subscriptions to Paramount+ and HBO Max. I want to see new things! And it feels increasingly frustrating that all forms of media have just become several snakes eating each other’s tails. But hey, if the Cyberpunk film ends up being naff at least that’s another one for the so bad they’re good video game movies pile.