Rolling Stone ranks The Matrix at number ten out of 150 of the “Best Sci-Fi Movies” for “radical political messaging, kick-ass action sequences and a brilliant premise.” Though I assume I speak for everyone when I say that the original will always be the fan favorite, the writers have managed to keep the beloved dystopian world alive for almost 30 years after the original came out.
Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed in a letter to shareholders that it is working on the “next installment of The Matrix.” No further information was provided about the movie’s plot or cast.
The most pressing question is whether or not Keanu Reeves will reprise his iconic role as Neo. In a 2021 interview with Empire, Reeves said: “If [Lana Wachowski] invites me again, I’m in.”
Lana Wachowski served as a director on the original trilogy alongside her sister, Lily, and it became their breakout project as a filmmaking duo. Then, Lana moved forward as the sole director of the most recent The Matrix: Resurrection in 2021. Now, the sisters are passing the torch along to Drew Goddard in both direction and writing, but Lana will reportedly be a producer. Lana’s involvement could be a good sign pointing to a return for Reeves.
Goddard will be writing and directing the newest movie. Goddard was responsible for adapting both The Martian and Project Hail Mary for the screen, and Cabin in the Woods was his original project. He has experience writing sci-fi, horror, and even superhero content, on the writing team for Daredevil and The Defenders.
After the declining box office numbers of the movies following the original in 1999, I, for one, am interested to see if this fifth installment could change the tide and be a good sequel. But we will have to wait until we get more information on the premise and, most importantly, the cast.