The Matrix is a science fiction film based on the cyberpunk genre—the film released in 1999. The Wachowskis directed it. It is the first film of the Matrix Franchise. The film revolves around a dystopian future in which humans are made to live in a simulated reality. But they do this unknowingly, and it is like they are trapped inside. Computer programmer and hacker Thomas “Neo” Anderson finds out the truth and “is drawn into a rebellion against the machines” along with other people who have been freed from the Matrix.
The film grossed $460 million across the globe and won several awards. This included four Academy Awards and others such as BAFTA Awards. It was critically acclaimed for its performances, visual effects, action sequences and cinematography. There were two feature film sequels to the film, both released in 2003. They were called The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Matrix 4: Updates
A few months after confirming the fourth instalment, a release date was a given as May 21, 2021. But concerns around the pandemic halted production, so the time has now been shifted to April 2, 2022. Wachowski stated, “I’m very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.” Aleksander Hemon and David Mitchell co-wrote the script of The Matrix 4 along with Wachowski.
Cast: Will Keanu Reeves returns in the upcoming film?
Let’s be frank. There cannot be a The Matrix film without Keanu Reeves who plays hacker Neo. So the good news is that he is back in The Matrix 4 along with Carrie-Ann Moss, who plays Trinity. We do not know how their characters will be incorporated in the film, given their fates in the previous movie. But the franchise is known for massive plot twists so it will not be so difficult.
Apart from Reeves and Moss, we will also see Ellen Hollman, Priyanka Chopra and Neil Patrick in unidentified roles.
The Matrix Revolutions ending explained: What does it mean for the plot of The Matrix 4? (Spoilers ahead)
Given how The Matrix Revolutions ended, Matrix 4, especially with Reeves and Moss, seems to be a strange development. After Trinity died in a car crash, Neo sacrificed himself to stop the spread of Agent Smith, which the Matrix could not control anymore. The war between humans and machines ended after that. He got himself absorbed in Smith’s program and destroyed it from within. How could the two possibly return after this?
But if you remember, in the final moments of the film there was an encounter between the Oracle and the Architect. They are The Matrix’s mother and father respectively and opponents in liberating humans. The meeting indicated a possible future war between humans and machines and also Neo’s return.
“Will we ever see him again?”
“I suspect so. Someday,” the Oracle answered.
The Architect reveals that Neo is “the eventuality of an anomaly”. He is an unbalanced equation of the Matrix, a genetically engineered clone, with no memory of his previous versions. Just like the other humans, even after having biological creatures, he was physically linked to the computers. So we would not be surprised if the upcoming film followed a plot in which a ‘new’ Neo and a ‘new’ Trinity would be created. They had access to Trinity’s genetic code, as she was also born in the simulated world. But the new iterations would come with an entirely new consciousness each. What the story does to them, we will have to wait for the film to know for sure.