The live-action film set in the Cyberpunk world, which Paramount Pictures is developing, will not be a faithful adaptation of the game’s storyline – said Michał Nowakowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt, in an interview with PAP Biznes. He also spoke about plans for the Witcher brand and the new Hadar universe.
The PAP Biznes interview was published on Thursday, October 15. Nowakowski explained that the previous agreement with Anonymous Content had expired. In the meantime, an opportunity to work with Paramount Pictures emerged, so the company decided to develop the live-action Cyberpunk project “in a new format”.
A film in the Cyberpunk world, but not based on the game
According to Nowakowski, at this stage only this can be said: CD Projekt “definitely does not want to make a film adaptation of the game”. The company reportedly wants to tell a new story set in the universe, rather than transfer the plot of “Cyberpunk 2077” one-to-one. Details are to be revealed once both sides are ready.
Deadline first reported on Paramount’s work on the film on October 8. The same day, Nowakowski confirmed it on X:
No screenwriter, director or cast has been announced yet.
Cyberpunk and The Witcher still attracting audiences
“Cyberpunk 2077” has surpassed 40 million copies sold. Nowakowski believes that both this game and “The Witcher” can keep attracting players, including those who were too young to pick them up when they launched.
The company also earns from licensing: music, game-themed products, board games and comics. According to Nowakowski, these should additionally keep interest in the brands alive between releases. One of the projects is the “Cyberpunk Trading Card Game”, being prepared with WeirdCo. A network of around 4,000 stores worldwide is set to help its development.
The Witcher: remaster, "Songs of the Past" and "The Witcher 4"
Nowakowski outlined the schedule: “The Witcher 3 Remaster” was released this year, “Songs of the Past” is planned for 2027, and “The Witcher 4” for 2028. In his view, licensing the Witcher IP should therefore “naturally gain speed”.
In a separate part of the interview, the joint CEO said that sales of “The Witcher 3” after the autumn sales ended remain higher than before the remaster. He said “The Witcher 4” is set to be the studio’s most ambitious production to date. He added that the company’s strategy is to avoid repeating itself and to introduce new narrative and gameplay solutions in every game.
Hadar as the next brand
Nowakowski announced that for the new Hadar universe, the company ultimately wants to apply licensing solutions similar to those that worked for Cyberpunk and The Witcher. The project was announced in October 2022 and is meant to be the company’s first fully original IP.
What we know about the film
The film has no release date or cast yet, so for now it is unknown when it will reach cinemas. The nearest concrete dates are “Songs of the Past” in 2027 and “The Witcher 4” in 2028. Fans can also expect more licensed products, including a collectible card game about Cyberpunk.
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