Well this is something not even the Oracle could’ve predicted: Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are set to be plugged back into The Matrix for a new film in the series.
According to Variety, not only are the aforementioned stars set to return, Lana Wachowski is coming back to direct this fourth film in The Matrix franchise.
Yes, this is a massive “whoa.”
After years of rumours and stories about potential reboots, it seems like a new Matrix is actually happening for real this time. Just to make sure this isn’t some gag, Lana issued out a statement confirming that she is indeed back to direct the new film.
“Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now. I’m very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.”
The interesting takeaway from this is the lack of involvement from Lilly Wachowski, who co-created the original trilogy with Lana.
But it appears that there’s no shortage of creative minds onboard this new flick as Aleksandar Hemon (who worked on Sense8 with the Wachowskis) and David Mitchell (who wrote Cloud Atlas, which the Wachowskis adapted) helped co-write the script.
As exciting as it is to see The Matrix get resurrected (rebooted?) for another go around, it also makes absolutely no sense.
Sure Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are back onboard as Neo and Trinity respectively, but those two characters kind of, well, died at the end of The Matrix Revolutions so having them back is a bit weird. And what about the uneasy peace between the machines and humans that Neo sacrificed himself for? Are they back at war against each other?
Okay, this new film is bringing up a lot of questions and not a lot of answers.
Maybe the original trilogy was set in another Matrix within another Matrix and everyone is still alive? Perhaps Neo and Trinity were uploaded into the Matrix somehow? Or maybe everything was a dream!
But perhaps they’re coming back as flashbacks or something as while plot points are being kept under lock and key according to Variety, Warner Bros. Pictures is looking to re-jig the character of Morpheus by casting a younger actor for a new take.
Seems like those Michael B. Jordan as Morpheus rumours might actually have something to them.
Given the wildly flexible rules of the Matrix, there’s no doubt Lana will figure out some way to get all these pieces to work and with a reported 2020 production start date, there’s still time to iron out all the plot details about Neo, Trinity and Morpheus’ return.
Unsurprisingly, there’s no release date or title for this new film yet so we’re just going ahead and calling it M4trix for the time being.