The question about whether we’d ever see Neo again after the end of The Matrix Revolutions has been answered: The Matrix 4 is officially in the works at Warner Bros and Village Roadshow Pictures, with co-creator Lana Wachowski set to write, direct, and produce. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will also reprise their roles as Neo and Trinity, respectively, according to Variety. Production could begin on the film “at the top of 2020”, reports the outlet.
No details were shared on additional cast members – whether Laurence Fishburne will also reprise his role as Morpheus, for example (although the former captain of the Nebuchadnezzar was killed off in The Matrix Online MMORPG, but that’s probably not canon anyway). Variety hints that Morpheus could be recast “for a younger take”.
“Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now,” Lana Wachowski said in a statement. “I’m very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.”
Wachowski is producing with frequent production collaborator Grant Hill. The screenplay is written by Wachowski and novelists Aleksander Hemon and David Mitchell, whose novel Cloud Atlas was adapted by Lana and Lilly Wachowski in 2012.
A new Matrix movie has been in the works for the past few years. Previously, writer Zak Penn (Avengers Assemble, Ready Player One) had been in talks to write a treatment for a new spinoff and WB had Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther) in mind for the starring role. That project, which could have potentially launched a Matrix Cinematic Universe, seems to be dead now.
No release date has been set for this new project as of yet, but it’s encouraging that the sequel has its stars and Lana Wachowski back in the fold. We’ll keep you updated as we hear more.
