CD Projekt’s live-action Cyberpunk film won’t walk through the story of the game. Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski told Polish outlet PAP Biznes that the studio doesn’t want a straight adaptation of Cyberpunk 2077, and is aiming for a new story set in the same world instead, as relayed by IGN.
“At this point, we can only say that we definitely don’t want to make a film adaptation of the game,” Nowakowski said. “We want to tell a story in the world of Cyberpunk, but it won’t be a one-to-one translation of the game’s story.” It’s the first public comment from CD Projekt on the film’s direction since Paramount’s involvement surfaced, which we covered when Paramount was reported to be developing the movie.
How the deal came together
GamesRadar reports that Nowakowski said the opportunity arose after an earlier contract with Anonymous Content expired, which led to the partnership with Paramount. The project was revealed in early October by Deadline, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, known for the live-action Transformers films, producing. Nowakowski added that more details will follow when both parties are ready, and there’s no release date or cast attached yet.
That leaves fan-casting as the only thing to go on. Actor Kyle Gallner has already pitched himself as V, the game’s mercenary protagonist, who is haunted by the digital ghost of Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand. Nowakowski’s comments don’t name any characters.
The Edgerunners template
The approach resembles what CD Projekt did with anime. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners used locations and characters from the game’s world but told its own story about new characters. Netflix says Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 arrives on 20 October as a standalone 10-episode story. It follows a fresh crew of mercenaries, voiced by an all-new cast, in a reimagined animation style.
The film also fits a wider plan. Wccftech reports that Nowakowski said the studio is already thinking about franchise-related projects around Project Hadar, its first game in an original universe, and wants that world to join The Witcher and Cyberpunk. For now, the Cyberpunk movie is early in development, and the story it tells is still undisclosed.
Will the Cyberpunk movie follow V’s story from the game?
Nowakowski says no. CD Projekt doesn’t want a film adaptation of the game and is aiming for a different story in the same world, though no plot or character details have been announced.
Who is making the live-action Cyberpunk movie?
It’s a Paramount project made in partnership with CD Projekt, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing. There’s no director, cast or release date yet.
When does Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 come out?
It premieres on Netflix on 20 October, and the standalone season has 10 episodes.
