Paramount developing live-action Cyberpunk 2077 film with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura

Paramount Pictures is developing a live-action film based on, or set in the universe of, the video game Cyberpunk 2077, according to the BBC and Reuters. Both outlets said producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is involved in the project.

CD Projekt Red (CDPR), the Polish developer of the game, called Paramount a future partner for the franchise. In a statement quoted by the BBC, joint chief executive Michał Nowakowski said the company was "excited about Paramount as a future partner who shares our creative ambitions for the Cyberpunk franchise".

What is reported

The BBC reported that CDPR is working with Paramount and di Bonaventura on the film. It said the story, release date and casting had not been announced when it published its report.

According to Reuters, the entertainment outlet Deadline reported the project on Thursday. CD Projekt's shares rose 3% in early trading on Friday, Reuters reported. Reuters attributed the rise to the Deadline report. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not show whether other factors were ruled out.

The game had a troubled launch in 2020. It features Keanu Reeves as the character Johnny Silverhand. It has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, according to the BBC. The BBC also reported that a second season of the animated Cyberpunk series Edgerunners is due to premiere on Netflix later this month.

Wider context

According to the BBC, Paramount Skydance completed a $110bn (£82.8bn) merger with Warner Bros Discovery earlier this week. The company has promised to release 30 films a year for the next two years, the BBC said. The reports do not say whether the merger affects the Cyberpunk project.

The BBC also reported that Microsoft announced a new "XP" division this week. The division will focus on licensing its games for films, theme parks and other tie-ins.

What each side says

• CD Projekt Red: The company welcomed Paramount as a partner that shares its creative ambitions. According to the BBC, CDPR says its Phantom Liberty expansion, released in 2023, has sold more than 15 million copies.
• Paramount Pictures: The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any statement from Paramount confirming the project.
• Prime Video: According to the BBC, the service says its Fallout adaptation is one of its most-watched programmes.

What is not known

The reports do not describe the film's story, release date, cast, director or screenwriter. They do not include the financial or contractual terms of the partnership. They do not specify CDPR's creative or production role. They also do not describe the development stage or a production timeline. Deadline's original report was not among the reports reviewed by Vocemundi. Its content is known only through Reuters' summary.

Analysis

The project is one of several recent moves to adapt video games for film and television. Microsoft's new licensing division and Prime Video's Fallout series are other examples reported by the BBC. For CD Projekt Red, a film could widen the audience for a franchise whose game recovered from a troubled launch. Several outcomes remain open. The project could move into production, change shape, or stall, as many film projects do. Paramount's output plans after its merger may also play a role. However, the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not show any link between the merger and this film. Key details, including timing and CDPR's role, remain unclear.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.