Those within The Matrix just took the red pill once again, and they’re seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes the fourth time around.
Variety first broke the news that Lana Wachowski, one of the original writers and directors behind the very first Matrix movie, has been contracted to write and direct a fourth film in the sprawling sci-fi series. Not only that, but actors Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are slated to return, reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity respectively from the visually dazzling action franchise.
This news just suddenly came out of left field and wasn’t really expected by anybody. While The Matrix is one of the most iconic and popular franchises of all time, won four Academy Awards, and grossed over one billion dollars at the box office, they haven’t released a sequel since 2003’s Matrix Revolutions, which opened to a lukewarm box office response and critical reception. Since that time, there was no interest expressed by Lana, Reeves, or Warner Bros. at the possibility of exploring a sequel, not to mention what that would even look like 15 years later.
Regardless, Matrix 4 is happening, and I have so many questions. First of all, what implored Lana to come back to this franchise? Ever since she and her sister Lilly concluded their trilogy in 2003, they’ve gone on to work on several high-profile and visually dynamic projects, not the least of which including V For Vendetta, Speed Racer, Ninja Assassin, Cloud Atlas, and Jupiter Ascending. At this point, I presumed the Wachowskis were more interested in working on original projects rather than returning to familiar territory. What suddenly urged Lana to change course and suddenly go back into The Matrix?
Speaking of which, where is Lilly in all of this? Throughout their entire filmography, Lana and Lilly went together like two peas in a pod, like peanut butter and jelly, like Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Having Lana work on this project without her sister is just unusual. It’s like the Coen Brothers working together for years on several projects including Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country For Old Men, and then suddenly Joel broke away from Ethan to direct The Ballad of Buster Scruggs all by himself.
I am enthralled to see Keanu Reeves returning to this franchise. While Reeves found mainstream success in playing Neo for The Matrix, he wouldn’t hit another high-profile role for several years until he would play John Wick in his self-titled action movie in 2014. Since then he’s gone on to play in two more John Wick movies, voicing the titular cat in the 2016 Key and Peele comedy Keanu, and would even voice Duke Caboom in the more recent Toy Story 4. He’s hit a huge success spurt as of late, and I’m excited to see Keanu return to one of his more recognizable roles that he’s obviously done so well in. Plus, it’s always cool to see the internet’s favorite boyfriend pop up on the big screen.
Overall, I’m very excited about this announcement. Surprised, yes, cautious, absolutely, and I definitely want to see where these developments will lead Neo and his crew. But more than anything else, I’m eager to see what this new chapter will bring for Neo and everyone else within The Matrix.
What do you guys think? Do you take the blue pill and believe whatever you want to believe, or do you take the red pill and see how deep the rabbit hole goes? Comment below, let me know.
– David Dunn
SOURCE: Variety, The Verge
DAVID DUNN 