Idris Elba Expresses Interest in Live-Action Cyberpunk 2077 Movie

Overview of Interest in Cyberpunk 2077 Film Adaptation

Idris Elba expresses enthusiasm about starring alongside Keanu Reeves in a potential Cyberpunk 2077 film adaptation.
Both actors have roles in the forthcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise.
A film adaptation would allow Elba and Reeves to work opposite each other for the first time in a live-action setting.

Idris Elba has contributed his voice to numerous video game-related projects, including his role in the anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Notably, he has also shown a keen interest in portraying another of his video game characters in a cinematic adaptation of Cyberpunk 2077.

In the expansion for CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed 2020 action role-playing game set in the dystopian Night City, Elba takes on the role of Solomon Reed. He plays a sleeper agent for the Federal Intelligence Agency, navigating the new district of Dogtown. Alongside his participation in Cyberpunk 2077, Elba voices Knuckles in several of Paramount’s Sonic projects, demonstrating his versatility in both film and gaming domains, further evidenced by his roles in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and NBA 2K20.

Idris Elba Advocates for a Cyberpunk 2077 Movie

Idris Elba as Solomon Reed in Cyberpunk 2077

In a recent interview while promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Elba shared his interest in a Cyberpunk 2077 film adaptation, coinciding with his collaboration with Keanu Reeves, who portrays Johnny Silverhand in the game and will also lend his voice to Shadow the Hedgehog in the upcoming Sonic film. The possibility of reuniting with Reeves for a film based on Cyberpunk 2077 excites Elba, who stated, “I think if any film could do a live-action rendition, it could be [Cyberpunk 2077], and I think [Reeves’] character and my character together would be, ‘Whoa.’”

I think if any film could do a live-action rendition, it could be [Cyberpunk 2077], and I think [Keanu Reeves’] character and my character together would be, “Whoa.”So, let’s speak that into existence.

Despite sharing significant roles in both Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, it is likely that Elba and Reeves have not had the chance to collaborate extensively due to voice acting typically requiring separate recording sessions. This lack of direct interaction adds to the excitement surrounding a potential Cyberpunk 2077 adaptation, where the two could finally engage in live-action performance together.

Development Status of Cyberpunk 2077 Live-Action Project

While no live-action adaptation of Cyberpunk 2077 has yet been released, the game has expanded its universe through the animated spin-off series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which received positive acclaim. Additionally, another animated project is underway with Netflix. In 2023, CD Projekt Red revealed a partnership with Anonymous Content to develop a live-action narrative set in the Cyberpunk universe. The studio has indicated its intention to present a new story rather than a direct adaptation, though specific details on the project’s direction remain under wraps.

Elba’s expressed enthusiasm to reprise his role as Solomon Reed, coupled with the potential for Reeves to return as Johnny Silverhand, means a Cyberpunk 2077 adaptation featuring their characters has significant promise for success.

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