When CD Projekt Red released Cyberpunk 2077 in late 2020, the game was met with heavy criticism over its quality. Since then, a number of patches have changed Cyberpunk 2077 for the better, making it a popular open-world RPG set against the backdrop of Night City. CD Projekt Red has also added some free additional content, with a major DLC expansion planned to become available soon for fans of Cyberpunk 2077.
The upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 DLC is called Phantom Liberty, advertised as a "spy-thriller" with several teaser trailers and confirmed celebrity talent. Keanu Reeves, who appeared in the original game, is set to reprise his role as Johnny Silverhand, and a new character named Solomon Reed will be portrayed by Idris Elba. These Hollywood stars will likely bring impressive performances to Phantom Liberty, which may provide some tricky choices for players.
Johnny Silverhand versus Solomon Reed in Cyberpunk 2077
Players will control the same protagonist in Phantom Liberty, V. By the end of Cyberpunk 2077, main character V has a fairly extensive set of interactions with Johnny Silverhand, which is unsurprising considering an engram that holds Johnny's consciousness was uploaded into V's brain. Johnny is an integral part of Cyberpunk 2077, and will likely be just as important a voice in Phantom Liberty.
As for Idris Elba, his character Solomon Reed is entirely new to the Cyberpunk universe. Only a few things are known about Solomon Reed, so players will have to build up a rapport with him in a way that they won't with Johnny. While Solomon Reed is not integrated with V the way Silverhand is, Idris Elba's prominence in the trailers and promotional materials make it seem like he will be a major NPC in the upcoming DLC. Reed is a representative of the New United States of America and works as an FIA officer, set on restoring peace in the Pacifica region by destroying Dogtown, a dangerous area that houses criminals inside the autonomous Night City.
Unlike Reed, Johnny Silverhand is a loose cannon with a destructive and rebellious history. Johnny's irreverent nature, Rockerboy background, excessive ego, and selfish behavior are things that V and Cyberpunk 2077 players have become familiar with. Beyond his personal shortcomings, Johnny is also a military deserter who hated the corrupt government. While fans don't know much about Solomon Reed at the moment, it seems clear that Reed and Silverhand will not get along particularly well.
Due to Johnny's ephemeral nature, it's unclear how much direct interaction Solomon Reed and Johnny Silverhand will have in Phantom Liberty. Still, Reed's no-nonsense, serious nature paired with his position as an FIA agent will likely lead to him dispensing advice that directly contradicts Silverhand's guns-blazing, dog-eat-dog approach. Like in Cyberpunk 2077 proper, players will likely be tasked with difficult choices that alter the outcomes in the game - whether V sides with Idris Elba or Keanu Reeves may ultimately be in the hands of players.
Until Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty releases sometime in 2023, fans will only be able to speculate about Solomon Reed's personality and motives. Regardless of which celebrity character V sides with, the DLC is highly anticipated, but its story and gameplay quality will have to vastly outshine the original release to keep CD Projekt in fans' good graces.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.