Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 originally lacked key character Roman

The development of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 took several unexpected turns before reaching the screen, including the creation of a fan-favorite character who was not part of the initial plan. According to an interview reported by GamesRadar+, Roman—the film-obsessed resident of Night City—was a late addition to the production.

The origin of Roman

Bartosz Sztybor, showrunner and franchise VP at CD Projekt Red, explained during a recent REDStreams talk that Roman was born out of shared passion for cinema between the creative team and director Kai Ikarashi. During the 18 months of story development, the creators realized they needed a character to act as a bridge between the ensemble cast.

“Roman was not in the original pitch of Edgerunners 2. He was born out of passion for cinema,” Sztybor stated. The team decided to lean into their love for physical media by making Roman a movie buff, ultimately positioning him as the glue that binds the show’s various characters, including the vengeance-seeking nomad D., the chrome-focused Talia, and the veteran edgerunner King.

Other scrapped plans

While Roman became an integral part of the narrative, the production team also confirmed that not every idea made the final cut. Studio Trigger had originally pitched a concept that involved destroying Night City and the Arasaka corporation entirely. While such a scenario would have undoubtedly served as a dramatic subject for one of Roman’s films, it was ultimately excluded from the series.

Why it matters

For fans of the franchise, this insight into the development process highlights how collaborative creative friction can shape the final tone of a project. While the show evolved significantly during its 18-month writing phase, the inclusion of Roman provided the emotional tether necessary to ground the series’ high-stakes action.

Players who enjoyed the series can still see the impact of these creative choices in Cyberpunk 2077. Following the show’s release, the game received a 2.5 update that introduced content tied to the Netflix series, including a quest involving King and the opportunity for players to obtain his signature weapon, the Coronation.