When hip hop duo Run the Jewels released the single "No Save Point" and its music video for the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack, it resulted in the Celebrity Paradox. This phenomenon is when a work of fiction depicts an actor existing in the same universe as the character they play. As a result, many questions arise from this predicament surrounding the consequences of this parallel existence.
In his verse, Killer Mike referenced Keanu Reeves ("Keanu Reeves, cyber arm under my sleeve"). Despite the fact that Reeves is already cast as the digital ghost of rocker Johnny Silverhand, it appears that both persons exist within the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. After the single dropped, many people began to question the implications of this bar, especially considering Run the Jewels will not be appearing in the game as themselves, but instead as Yankee and the Brave.
Thankfully, senior quest designer Patrick K. Mills confirmed via Twitter that the lyric is "lore friendly." It turns out that in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, Keanu Reeves is merely a "little known Collapse-era actor" frequently mistaken for Johnny Silverhand due to his uncanny resemblance. Considering Silverhand is a freedom fighter targeted by the Arasaka Corporation, one has to consider Reeves' safety constantly being under attack.
For those unfamiliar with Cyberpunk lore, its timeline diverges greatly from players' in the 90s, with the Collapse happening in 1996. This event is the fall of Western civilization, which leads to the rise of several megacorporations. Silverhand himself disappears in the 2020s following an assault on Arasaka headquarters. If Keanu Reeves is still running around in the Cyberpunk universe, the 56-year-old actor is known for remaining ageless over the years, so a random cameo from Reeves isn't completely out of the question.
Reeves has become a major part of Cyberpunk 2077 and its marketing, with his initial screen time having been doubled upon his request. His appearance at E3 2019 spawned various memes around him being "breathtaking," with even a trophy/achievement referencing the incident. A Night City Wire broadcast focused solely around the Canadian actor and his character of Johnny Silverhand has been scheduled for this Thursday, November 19 at noon ET.
Besides Reeves, CD Projekt Red has employed multiple other celebrities for the game. The soundtrack, which consists of in-universe tracks, will feature the likes of Grimes, A$AP Rocky, and Refused. The various roles that each artist will play are yet to be confirmed. Grimes herself has been cast as pop star Lizzy Wizzy, complete with a tragic backstory.
Cyberpunk 2077Â launches on December 10 for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are in development.
