Cyberpunk 2077features a cast of enthralling and well-written characters, both major and minor. Among the more captivating characters on the outskirts of the Johnny-V narrative is Lizzy Wizzy, played by none other than electro-pop star Claire Elise Boucher, AKA Grimes. Lizzy Wizzy’s screen time is somewhat limited, but theexclusiveCyberpunk 2077musical tracksthat Grimes recorded under the Lizzy Wizzy moniker help keep the character’s presence front-of-mind throughout the game.
Lizzy Wizzy is positioned as a groundbreaking and avant-garde figure inCyberpunk 2077’s world, nestled within Night City’s cultural elite. Her musical repertoire is vast and seminal, but her persona, both on-and off-stage, is what defines her larger-than-life status. She is known for her radical cyberware modifications and bombastic, even life-threatening live performances, including one where she intentionally stopped her heart mid-show, only to be revived and continue as though nothing had happened. All of this is to say that Lizzy Wizzy is the epitome of superstardom inCyberpunk 2077’s twisted universe, and Grimes, with her flamboyant real-world persona and futuristic musical themes, was the perfect casting choice.
Cyberpunk 2077features exclusive musical tracksfrom several other artists, including Run the Jewels and A$AP Rocky, though none other than Grimes actually appear as characters in-game.
Why Project Orion Should Repeat Cyberpunk 2077’s Lizzy Wizzy Casting
Lizzy Wizzy Adds Authenticity and Charm to the Cyberpunk 2077 World
While one could make the argument that including real-world celebrities in a video game can be distracting, Grimes' appearance inCyberpunk 2077is more enriching than anything else. Bringing on a real musician to play Lizzy Wizzy, one concerned with many of the samethemes asCyberpunk 2077no less, lends the character a sense of authenticity and plausibility. Lizzy Wizzy doesn’t feel like a cheap imitation of an experimental music artist: she really is an experimental musical artist, in a sense.
Musicians That Could Be the Next ‘Lizzy Wizzy’
There’s a chance that Grimes could reprise her role inProject Orion,Cyberpunk’s codenamed sequel. Even if this does wind up happening, though, it would be nice to see CD Projekt Red try the same clever, metanarrative trick once again with a different artist, and there’s a heap of great options to choose from. Some promising artists that couldreplace or supplement Lizzy Wizzyin the next game include:
Many of these artists are either explicitly or subtly concerned with futuristic and dystopian themes. Otherwise, they boast unique and boundary-pushing sounds that make them feel like something thatwould fit withinCyberpunk 2077—they share the same vibes as the game, in other words. For example, artists like Thom Yorke, Bjork, and Del the Funky Homosapien (specifically in theDeltron 3030concept album) have a history of discussing, speculating, or dissecting futurist themes in their work, while someone like Dorian Electra, with their radical commitment to nonconformity, is more spiritually linked to such ideas.
It should be noted that, if one of these artists were to appear in a similar capacity as Grimes inProject Orion, they wouldn’t necessarily need to be Lizzy Wizzy 2.0. That is to say, they don’t have to be a borderline cyberpsycho producing dreamy hyperpop. Someone like Father John Misty might actually be well-suited to a role as an artist that is morecritical of Night City’s rampant progress, rejecting many of modern culture’s more disturbing traits. In this way,Project Orioncould hone in on other, more unique stories through the lenses of art and fame. Getting more artists to make great music for the game probably wouldn’t spark any complaints, either.
Cyberpunk 2077
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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
