Paramount Is Making a Cyberpunk 2077 Film With Transformers Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura

Paramount Pictures is officially bringing Night City to the big screen. The studio is developing a live-action film set in the universe of CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, with veteran producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura attached to produce alongside the Polish game developer that created the franchise.

The news, first reported by Deadline and confirmed by Variety, sent CD Projekt Red’s shares up 3% in early Friday trading. It marks the latest major video game adaptation to land at a Hollywood studio, and one of the most ambitious attempts yet to translate a dense, player-driven RPG into a cinematic experience.

What We Know So Far

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Details are still scarce, which is typical for a project this early in development. Here’s what’s confirmed:

• Studio: Paramount Pictures
• Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers franchise, Snake Eyes, Madame Web)
• Co-producer: CD Projekt Red, the franchise rights holder
• Source material: Cyberpunk 2077, the open-world action-adventure RPG released in 2020
• Setting: Night City, a fictional cyberpunk metropolis in California

CD Projekt Red joint-CEO Michal Nowakowski posted on X late Thursday: “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.”

Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and CD Projekt Red told Reuters it had nothing to add beyond Nowakowski’s statement.

Why This Matters

Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most commercially successful video games of all time, having sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Despite a notoriously troubled launch in December 2020 that saw the game pulled from the PlayStation Store for months, CD Projekt Red spent years patching and expanding the title into the game it was always meant to be. The 2023 Phantom Liberty expansion and the ongoing sequel development have kept the franchise in the cultural conversation.

The universe has already proven it can work on screen. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the Netflix anime series set in the same Night City, became a critical and popular hit when it premiered in September 2022. The show’s emotional storytelling and stunning animation earned it a devoted fanbase, and a second season is set to debut this month. That success demonstrated that the Cyberpunk world could resonate with audiences beyond the gaming community.

The Lorenzo di Bonaventura Factor

Having Lorenzo di Bonaventura attached is a significant signal of intent. The producer has built a career on big-budget, effects-driven franchises, most notably the Transformers series, which has grossed over $5.4 billion worldwide. He also produced Snake Eyes, the G.I. Joe spinoff, and Madame Web, Sony’s Marvel-adjacent thriller.

His involvement suggests Paramount is thinking about Cyberpunk 2077 as a potential franchise starter, not a one-off experiment. The producer’s track record with IP-driven projects makes him a natural fit for a property that has sequels, expansions, and a built-in fanbase already in place.

That said, di Bonaventura’s recent track record is mixed. Transformers One was a critical success but underperformed at the box office, and Madame Web was a high-profile misfire. The producer will need to balance the expectations of hardcore fans with the demands of a mainstream audience that may not know the difference between Arasaka and Militech.

The Challenge of Adapting Night City

Cyberpunk 2077 is a deeply personal, player-driven experience. The game puts you in the boots of V, a mercenary outlaw searching for a one-of-a-kind implant that doubles as a key to immortality. The story is shaped by player choices, branching narratives, and the freedom to explore Night City at your own pace.

Translating that into a two-hour film is no small task. The game’s themes of identity, corporate control, and body modification are rich material for a filmmaker, but the open-world structure doesn’t map neatly onto a traditional three-act narrative. The film will need to find a way to capture the atmosphere and aesthetic of Night City without relying on the interactive elements that made the game special.

Other cyberpunk films have faced similar challenges. Ghost in the Shell (2017) struggled to balance its philosophical themes with Hollywood action expectations. Blade Runner 2049 (2017) was a visual masterpiece that underperformed commercially despite critical acclaim. The Matrix (1999) remains the gold standard for cyberpunk cinema, but it benefited from being a wholly original creation rather than an adaptation.

Paramount’s Video Game Strategy

The Cyberpunk 2077 film is part of a broader push by Paramount to tap into the massive audience for video game adaptations. The studio is also developing a Call of Duty feature film directed by Peter Berg and a live-action Street Fighter movie. These projects reflect a industry-wide recognition that video games are no longer a niche interest but a dominant form of entertainment with built-in global audiences.

Recent years have seen a string of successful game adaptations, from The Last of Us on HBO to the Sonic the Hedgehog films and the Minecraft movie. The stigma that once plagued video game movies has largely faded, replaced by a recognition that these properties offer rich worlds and passionate fanbases that can translate to box office success.

Paramount’s approach differs from some competitors in that it is partnering directly with CD Projekt Red as a co-producer. This gives the game developer a creative stake in the project, which could help ensure the film remains faithful to the source material. It also means the studio has access to the game’s writers, designers, and world-builders throughout the development process.

What to Expect Next

Given the early stage of development, it’s likely a while before we see a trailer or even a confirmed cast. The project is possibly still in the pre-production phase, with no director or screenwriter officially attached yet. The involvement of di Bonaventura and CD Projekt Red suggests the project is being taken seriously, but the gap between announcement and release for a film of this scope could be several years.

In the meantime, fans of the franchise have plenty to look forward to. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 premieres this month on Netflix, continuing the animated expansion of the Night City universe. CD Projekt Red also has 184 developers working on a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, though no release date has been announced.

For Paramount, the Cyberpunk 2077 film represents both an opportunity and a risk. The property has a massive, passionate fanbase and a proven track record in other media. But the game’s troubled launch and the mixed track record of cyberpunk films mean there’s no guarantee of success. If the studio can find the right creative team and stay true to what makes the franchise special, this could be the start of something big. If not, it could become another cautionary tale in the long history of video game adaptations.

Either way, Night City is coming to the big screen. And for the millions of players who have spent hours exploring its neon-lit streets, that’s worth getting excited about.