A while back, Hugo Weaving had cited scheduling issues as the reason he ultimately wouldn’t be returning for the fourth Matrix film after there had been interest from director Lana Wachowski for the actor to reprise the role of Agent Smith. 

However, Weaving has now given a more detailed explanation of what happened behind the scenes during a recent interview with Coming Soon. This new version suggests that his reaction to the script may have led to Lana having second thoughts about having Hugo return as during the negotiation stage she decided against it.  

WEAVING: “Lana Wachowski had rung me at the beginning of last year. We’ve worked together five times, the Wachowski’s and I on three Matrix films, V for Vendetta and Cloud Atlas. I’ve hung out with them all over the world for many, many years. So, yes, Lana was very keen for me to be involved in The Matrix. There was a reading with Keanu, Carrie, and myself and a few others from the old family.”

“I loved a lot of it and wasn’t sure about other bits. Ultimately, we talked about it and when the offer came through to do it for Warner’s I said yes the next day and I talked to Lana.”

“I thought we could have done my scenes in May, June, and July; and we talked about money and we talked about — they were negotiating,” Weaving added. “And we were all pretty much sorted and agreed on dates and it was all fine, but then Lana decided she didn’t think it was going to work. So, she pulled the plug on the negotiations. That’s where it ended up. She basically didn’t feel that my commitment to the National Theatre was going to fit in with the dates that she had in mind for me.”

“It was a shame in one way that I couldn’t be with them all in Berlin, but that was her call. So, that was it really. I know they then started shooting in San Francisco and they were going to shoot in Chicago and they ended up starting in Berlin but it was shut down. But they restarted again. I don’t know how they’re going, but, yeah, it would be lovely to be over there to hang out with them all. I’m very fond of Keanu and Carrie. I haven’t seen them for a while. But I look forward to seeing it.”

Sometimes directors have second guesses when it comes to the creative/casting stage and if things just don’t feel like a good fit during the meeting process it might not pan-out. This isn’t the first time an actor thought they were returning for a sequel and it didn’t come together.

Laurence Fishburne is also not expected to reprise the Morpheus role either.

As Weaving points out he has an excellent relationship with Lana and I’m sure they’ll find something to work on in the future. 

Filming is currently underway at Babelsberg Studio just outside of Berlin, Germany. 

The cast of Matrix 4 includes returning actors such as Keanu Reeves as Neo, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe. New additions include Jessica Henwick (Godzilla vs Kong, Iron Fist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) playing a new version of Neo/The One, Neil Patrick Harris (Starship Troopers, Gone Girl), Toby Onwumere, Erendira Ibarra (Sense8), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen, Aquaman).

There is an expectation if successful the studio will move forward with two sequels to complete a new trilogy. 

John Wick directors Chad Stahleski and David Leitch returned to help with action sequences on the film that would be shot by Lana herself, normally handled by a stunt coorindator/2nd unit director given the danger involved with capturing action shots. 

Warner Bros. has given the sequel/soft-reboot a release date of April 1st, 2022. 

SOURCE: COMING SOON