‘Cyberpunk 2077’ is only three days away: Here are all the celebrities who we know are appearing in the game!
‘Tis the season for robot arms and grimey downtown adventures because Cyberpunk 2077 is on the verge of release. The highly anticipated action RPG takes place in a destroyed United States where high-tech advancements and cityscapes define the former wasteland. Since its announcement in 2012, fan hype has been building into a juggernaut. However, we aren’t the only people who are looking forward to our own journey in Night City. Twitter has been ablaze with excitement. One of the most significant draws of the game is its abundance of celebrity cameos.
Keanu Reeves
Arguably the face of marketing for Cyberpunk 2077, Keanu Reeves confirmed his involvement in the game at E3 2019. In the now iconic (and breathtaking) press conference, Keanu shared his experience working with developer CD Projekt Red and showed off the character he would be portraying. Johnny Silverhand is not only a bonafide rockstar but also a super terrorist hellbent on destroying the corpocracy ruling Night City. Whether you help or hurt Johnny in his plans is dependent on player choice, something Reeves said initially enticed him to the game. Reviewers have already noted that Keanu’s natural charm makes Johnny instantly lovable despite his crass behavior at points. The opposite of Keanu Reeves, Johnny Silverhand is a rude, misogynistic, ghost of the past who your main character has to contend with. Reeves has been a staple in the sci-fi genre for more than thirty years. He has starred in Johnny Mnemonic, The Matrix Series, and Bill & Ted, all of which have been heavily influential in the popular mainstream. For everyone who is worried about Keanu’s screen time during the game, have no fear. Reviewers have already confirmed that Johnny stays by the main character’s side for the majority of the game. Reeves not only applied his voice to the character but also his facial likeness and movements. He even teamed up with CD Projekt Red to incorporate his motorcycle company’s vehicles into the game. It is safe to say that this is as much of a Keanu Reeves experience as any player is going to get.
Grimes
Singer and songwriter Grimes recently announced on Twitter that they will be playing an NPC or non-playable character in Cyberpunk 2077. The NPC will be cyborg popstar Lizzy Wizzy. Grimes has not hinted that this role will produce new music, but we might get an alternative version of one of their more popular songs. Grimes’ music is a perfect fit for the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. Their entire career has been about taking risks and exploring the future of music. Along with the Tweet, Grimes posted a photo of them and a friend modeling body paint reminiscent of cyborg like wires. According to insiders, Lizzy Wizzy was a wildly popular musician who, after committing suicide on stage, was resurrected as a cyborg to perform for eternity. This insane backstory exactly describes the vibe of Cyberpunk 2077.
Michael Leon-Wooley
On a smaller scale, there is a lot of high-caliber voice talent hard at work on Cyberpunk 2077. One of the more familiar voices we’ve heard is that of Michael Leon-Wooley. Playing Dexter “Dex” DeShawn, a connoisseur of illegal activities in Night City, he is implied to be a major villain in the game. This is a departure for Wooley, who is most well known for portraying Louis, the trumpet playing alligator in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. Since his role as Louis, Wooley has dedicated himself to expanding his voice work. There is no doubt that he is a perfect choice for this character.
Elon Musk
A rumored appearance, but still worth talking about, SpaceX CEO and product architect of Tesla, Elon Musk, might also be making the journey to Night City. About a year ago, Musk and CD Projekt Red had a brief but sassy exchange on Twitter that sent fans crazy.
The conversation was sparked by the announcement that Musk’s Teslas will be included in the game. Tesla’s futuristic brand almost blends in with Cyberpunk 2077’s aesthetic. As for Elon Musk himself, it has been heavily rumored that the mogul will be appearing during the corporate section of the game. At the beginning of Cyberpunk 2077, you are able to choose between three lifepaths for your main character. These include street kid, corporate, and nomad. Depending on which path you decide, the prologue of the game is vastly different. With Elon Musk’s heavy corporate background, I doubt we will be seeing him in any other section.
Hideo Kojima
Finally, we have to include figures in the gaming community that are making cameos in Cyberpunk 2077. Most significant is gaming pioneer and designer Hideo Kojima. His acclaimed game series, Metal Gear Solid, has returned to popular conversation after the announcement of a film adaptation starring Oscar Isaac hitting the news. The Metal Gear Solid series revolutionized 3D games with cinematic storylines. Having a deep story of its own, Cyberpunk 2077 simply wouldn’t have those opportunities without Kojima’s innovations.
The first hints of Kojima in Cyberpunk 2077 began after the release of his newest game, Death Stranding, in late 2019. In congratulating the Kojima Productions head for his success, CD Projekt Red created a mockup of what Kojima would look like in Night City. Turns out this mockup was more than just a fan tribute. Hideo Kojima will appear early on in the game as a character named Oshima. If you look closer, Oshima means large island, which is an alternative pronunciation to Kojima. Oshima is described as a rude patron in a corporate bar who loves leather jackets and motorcycles. Players who have already encountered Oshima have confirmed these suspicions.
Are you excited about Cyberpunk 2077? Or has the hype train carried this game way too far? The only way to know is to pick up a copy on December 10th.
