Actor Kyle Gallner made his intentions unmistakably clear on October 8, publicly pitching himself as the lead in Paramount’s newly announced live-action film adaptation of Cyberpunk 2077. Mere hours after the studio revealed it was developing a movie based on CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed sci-fi franchise, the Smile 2 star took to social media with a close-shaved haircut and a single caption that quickly captured fans’ imaginations: “Take me to night city.”
The announcement marks another major milestone in the expansion of a world that has grown far beyond its tabletop RPG origins. Through CD Projekt Red’s video game, its celebrated Edgerunners spinoff anime from Studio Trigger, and now a live-action feature film, enthusiasts of the gritty cyberpunk universe have more reasons than ever to invest in Night City.
A Franchise on the Rise
Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way from its roots as a tabletop role-playing game. The video game and its standout expansion earned critical praise, while the Edgerunners spinoff anime from Studio Trigger drew widespread acclaim for bringing the universe’s raw aesthetic to animation. Paramount’s latest move signals yet another chapter in that growth.
The studio confirmed it is developing a live-action movie based on the franchise, though plot details remain tightly under wraps. That ambiguity has only fueled speculation about who might anchor the project. Some fans imagine following V’s adventures alongside Johnny Silverhand, others envision Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed in the years before he meets V, and a few even joke about bringing Edgerunner 2‘s Weak Kingsley to the big screen.
Among those weighing in on the casting conversation is Gallner himself. The actor, known for his work across horror and genre films, posted a photograph of himself sporting V’s signature close-cropped hairstyle alongside the caption “Take me to night city,” signaling both enthusiasm and readiness for the role.
“We’re excited about Paramount as a future partner who shares our creative ambitions for the Cyberpunk franchise. We look forward to sharing more details at the appropriate time.”
Michał Nowakowski, CD Projekt Red co-CEO
Fans Rally Behind a Possible Casting
The reaction to Gallner’s post was swift and overwhelmingly positive. Social media users were quick to envision the actor sharing screen time with Keanu Reeves, who returns as Johnny Silverhand in the game’s marketing.
“Kyle and Keanu. Sounds outstanding,” one commenter wrote, while another declared Gallner would be “PERFECT casting.” A third added, “You and Keanu teaming up? I could be on board for that,” and a fourth urged the studio directly: “He’s HIM! Paramount, please consider.”
The enthusiasm underscores how deeply fans feel about the franchise’s future. With so many narrative threads still untapped in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, the prospect of a live-action adaptation has generated genuine excitement rather than skepticism—a rare sentiment for any high-profile video game-to-film transition.
Looking Ahead
Details about the film itself remain scarce, but CD Projekt Red has promised that more information will arrive soon. Co-CEO Michał Nowakowski’s statement on X positioned Paramount as a like-minded creative partner rather than merely an outside studio, suggesting the developer intends to maintain strong oversight over how the franchise is portrayed.
Until then, Paramount has offered no confirmation that Gallner—or anyone else—has been cast. But with a star publicly embracing the role and fans rallying behind him, one thing is clear: when Night City finally does call for its next V, there will be an eager line of contenders ready to answer.
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