CD Projekt RED reveals more information about the character that Keanu Reeves will be playing in Cyberpunk 2077. The confirmation that The Matrix and John Wick star would be in the sci-fi RPG was one of the biggest surprise announcements from the Xbox press conference at E3 2019.

In a press release, CD Projekt RED confirms that Reeves will be playing a character named Johnny Silverhand, providing his voice, appearance, and doing motion capture for the character. Silverhand is a legendary rockstar in Night City, where Cyberpunk 2077 is set, and as a Rockerboy he uses his music to entertain and to fight authority. Silverhand really has it in for Arasaka, a corporation who Silverhand blames for the loss of his arm and the death of some of his loved ones. Cyberpunk 2077 will look closely at the districts and factions of Night City, as well as at the corporations' shady dealings and Silverhand could potentially be part of that.

Cyberpunk 2077 Keanu Reeves character (2)

However, some fans aren't so sure that the character Reeves is playing is the real Johnny Silverhand. In the Cyberpunk 2020 board game, Silverhand died in 2024 which is 53 years before Cyberpunk 2077. In the Cyberpunk 2077gameplay demo released last year, a radio station also said that it had been a year since Silverhand's "last ride." CD Projekt RED may not be following the board game's lore so closely, but that would still mean that Johnny Silverhand has been dead for one year, not 53.

Another possible explanation is that Silverhand is just a holograph. Some frames from Cyberpunk 2077's E3 2019 trailer seem to show Silverhand looking a little transparent. That could be because V's eye augmentation isn't working correctly, or because Silverhand really is a holograph. Cyberpunk 2077 does have some strange parts to it and as a sci-fi game, it can get away with doing things such as a holographic rockstar Keanu Reeves so this could be an accurate suggestion from fans.

Whatever way Silverhand is in the game, fans of the Cyberpunk series will be glad to see him starring in the game in some capacity. Not only is Silverhand a fan favorite character being played by a Hollywood actor, but he could also be a great ally if V's companion Jackie really is dead. The loss of Jackie may be sad but it's difficult to be too upset about it when augmented, and virtual Keanu Reeves has your back.

Cyberpunk 2077 releases April 16, 2020.