Tag: Lana Wachowski

'Matrix 5': Drew Goddard Set To Write & Direct Next Installment Of Cyberpunk Action Franchise
Posted on in Film News, News

‘Matrix 5’: Drew Goddard Set To Write & Direct Next Installment Of Cyberpunk Action Franchise

We’re getting another installment of “The Matrix” franchise, and it’s coming from a unique place, writer/director Drew Goddard. The news announced earlier in the week via trades like The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Village Roadshow and Warner Bros. are reuniting on a fifth untitled “Matrix” movie with Lana Wachowski (the co-director of the original trilogy and helmer of “The Matrix Resurrections”) returning to produce.

Goddard is said to have impressed everyone with a “new idea” and is set to both write and direct “Matrix 5.” However, it’s unclear if any of the original cast or new additions seen in “The Matrix Resurrections” will be part of this new movie. The filmmaker is maybe best known for his satirical horror comedy “Cabin In The Woods” and also earned a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination for his work on Ridley Scott’s sci-fi dramedy “The Martian.”

Again, without knowing the direction or plan for this next installment, it’s really hard to know where they’ll be going. One hypothetical idea could be a prequel covering Humanity’s War With Machines that led to the creation of The Matrix after humanity eventually lost that global war. This world-shattering event was actually covered in “The Animatrix” shorts and didn’t exactly have a narrative structure allowing further exploration within that story; if Warners wanted to, that is. Then again, are audiences going to be thrilled about a prequel film that wouldn’t leave room for a return of Keanu Reeves‘ Neo or Carrie-Anne Moss‘ Trinity? That feels doubtful.

We’ve known for a while that Goddard has been trying to get his mitts on a Marvel Comics project after having attempted to direct episodes of the “Daredevil” series at Netflix, Sony’s “Amazing Spider-Man 2” spinoff movie “The Sinister Six,” an “X-Force” movie with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool (before the merger with Disney sort of threw it on the scrap heap), and has been rumored for months to be in the running to helm “Spider-Man 4” for Marvel Studios. It certainly feels like he’s been trying his darnedest to make an IP installment, but it just hasn’t been working out, given his bad luck.

Village Roadshow and Warners had been previously feuding, but it looks like between “Matrix 5,” the upcoming release of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” and that “Edge of Tomorrow” sequel looking to finally get made sooner rather than later, the two are starting to smooth things out behind the scenes as they continue to make blockbuster projects together.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News, News

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Official Synopsis Hinting The Sequels Aren’t Canon & Young Morpheus Confirmed?

Yesterday, saw the release of the first trailer for Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix Resurrections with Keanu Reeves back as The One, Neo.

Interestingly enough, the film’s official synopsis suggests that the new film is only going by the previous events of The Matrix, not the two sequels. It was previously assumed that Resurrections would be a follow-up to The Matrix Revolutions, making many believe that Warner Bros. might be consider the previous films as taking place outside of canon.

The Matrix Resurrections is a continuation of the story established in the first MATRIX film. It reunites Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as cinematic icons Neo & Trinity in an expansion of their story that ventures back into the Matrix and even deeper down the rabbit hole. A mind-bending new adventure with action and epic scale, it’s set in a familiar yet even more provocative world where reality is more subjective than ever and all that’s required to see the truth is to free your mind.

20 years after the first film, the franchise that helped define pop culture at the turn of the century is back for a continuation and extension of the original movie. The Matrix remains in the zeitgeist as a film that has changed the way we look at cinema and reality itself. With its game changing action and visual effects, The Matrix helped pave the way for films to follow.

Very interesting they’re not talking about the trilogy, only the original movie.

If true, this could mean that there were alternative events that took place between The Matrix and The Matrix Resurrections that are different from what happened in the previous two films. While this could be simple phrasing from the studio to potentially skirt the use of the films to promote the new one, since Reloaded and Revolutions aren’t as highly regarded as the original.

Clearly, certain things from the other films will carry over as seen in the trailer.

There is also the possibility that moving the story forward potentially needed to ignore the events of those films as well.

Another interesting thing is that actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II captioned on Instagram his image from the new trailer with “Morpheus,” suggesting that he is indeed playing a young version of the character in the film.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTm3V-LgW7V/

From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes “The Matrix Resurrections,” the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.

The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Eréndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).

Lana Wachowski directed from a screenplay by Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis. The film was produced by Grant Hill, James McTeigue and Lana Wachowski. The executive producers were Garrett Grant, Terry Needham, Michael Salven, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman. Wachowski’s creative team behind the scenes included “Sense8” collaborators: directors of photography Daniele Massaccesi and John Toll, production designers Hugh Bateup and Peter Walpole, editor Joseph Jett Sally, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, visual effects supervisor Dan Glass, and composers Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, In Association with Venus Castina Productions, “The Matrix Resurrections.” The film will be distributed by worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will be in theaters nationwide and on HBO Max via the Ad-Free plan on December 22, 2021; it will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS.

Posted on in Film News, News, Trailers

TRAILER: ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Brings Neo Out Of Digital Hibernation For A New Adventure

Lana Wachowski is back to bring us a fourth Matrix film with The Matrix Resurrections and we’ll see the return of Keanu Reeves’ Neo alongside some other familiar faces and new ones as well.

Warner Bros. has dropped the first trailer for the new film after giving us some teases of footage on the film’s website, which is a neat marketing tool that really hasn’t been used with a mainstream movie in a very long time. I can’t really remember the last time people were actually drawn to a film’s website for marketing purposes outside of things like The Dark Knight.

There is a strong indication this is the first installment of a new Matrix trilogy.

From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes “The Matrix Resurrections,” the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.

The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Eréndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).

Lana Wachowski directed from a screenplay by Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis. The film was produced by Grant Hill, James McTeigue and Lana Wachowski. The executive producers were Garrett Grant, Terry Needham, Michael Salven, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman. Wachowski’s creative team behind the scenes included “Sense8” collaborators: directors of photography Daniele Massaccesi and John Toll, production designers Hugh Bateup and Peter Walpole, editor Joseph Jett Sally, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, visual effects supervisor Dan Glass, and composers Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, In Association with Venus Castina Productions, “The Matrix Resurrections.” The film will be distributed by worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will be in theaters nationwide and on HBO Max via the Ad-Free plan on December 22, 2021; it will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS.

Posted on in Film News, News

First Looks From ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ With Trailer Officially Dropping On Thursday

The Matrix: Resurrections is about to give Matrix fans a massive thrill as Warner Bros. has announced the first trailer on Thursday, the film’s official Twitter account confirmed this and we even have some teases of that trailer. You can watch the snippets of teaser footage on the reactivated Matrix website here.

Lana Wachowksi returns to direct a cast that consists of Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Henwick, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Christina Ricci, and Ellen Hollman.

The new footage shows Jessica Henwick’s character, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as his Morpheus-like role, a Sentinel in the real world, Neo back in the dojo training program, Neo and Trinity together, and we see Keanu Reeves as Neo getting ready to fight a crowd of people along with stopping multiple machine guns at close range.

There is an expectation this latest installment could be the start of a second Matrix trilogy, but has yet to be officially announced by the studio or Lana Wachowski.

The Matrix: Resurrections still has a release date of December 22.

THE MATRIX – Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS.

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Matrix 4’ Officially Titled ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ & New Details Revealed From CinemaCon Footage

Warner Bros. has officially announced yesterday that Matrix 4 is indeed titled The Matrix: Resurrections, they also revealed footage during the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon.

Lana Wachowksi returns to direct a cast that consists of Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Henwick, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Christina Ricci, and Ellen Hollman.

CinemaCon footage was described by The Hollywood Reporter’s Aaron Couch, revealing that both Neo and Trinity have no memory of the previous events. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is indeed playing that “Morpheus” figure and that Neil Patrick Harris is playing Thomas Anderson’s (Neo’s identity within the Matrix) therapist. Neo is taking two blue pills a day, potentially to keep his memories/powers suppressed.

“Neo Takes two blue pills a day, prescribed by his doctor Finally he meets a man dressed like Morpheus, who offers him a red pill. Neo seems to have a few new powers from the last time (controls a missile through telekanesis).”

It was previously reported that Jessica Henwick’s character is supposed to be the new Neo/The One, but I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer about getting that confirmed. We likely won’t have to wait too long before Warner Bros. starts to kick off the marketing campaign and sharing a public trailer.

The Matrix: Resurrections still has a release date of December 22.

THE MATRIX – Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

SOURCE: CINEMACON VIA THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News

‘Speed Racer’ Actress Christina Ricci Joins ‘The Matrix 4’

The Matrix 4 wrapped months ago and won’t be released until December 22, but a new press kit for the film spotted by Collider has quietly added actress Christina Ricci to the cast. Ricci previously worked with director Lana Wachowski on the anime adaptation Speed Racer in the role of Trixie. Her credits include The Addams Family, Addams Family Values, Casper, Monster, and Sleepy Hollow.

Lana Wachowksi returns to direct a cast that consists of Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Henwick, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Ellen Hollman.

There are expectations that The Matrix 4 will launch a second trilogy.

THE MATRIX – Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

SOURCE: COLLIDER

Posted on in Film News

‘Matrix 4’s Real Title Might Be ‘Matrix Resurrections’ According To A Wrap Gift

A post from film and television hairstylist Shunika Terry might have accidentally revealed that the real official title to Matrix 4 is actually Matrix Resurrections. She posted what seems to be a wrap gift from the shoot in Germany which included a thank you card to the cast and crew mentioning the film’s title.

In a recent promo for HBO Max, the film was simply referred to as Matrix.

It’s worth mentioning the post has been since deleted from Instagram after going viral over the weekend.

Lana Wachowksi returns to direct a cast that consists of Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Henwick, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Ellen Hollman.

Warner Bros. has given the film a release date of December 22nd, 2021.

THE MATRIX – Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

SOURCE: SHUNIKA TERRY

Posted on in Film News

‘Matrix 4’ Actress Jessica Henwick Praises Director Lana Wachowski – “I Think She’s Going To Change The Industry Again With This Film”

Matrix 4 is going to be a brand new installment in the Matrix mythology and trade reports stated that actress Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones, Iron Fist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Godzilla vs Kong) would be playing a Neo-type character in the film with her potentially becoming the next “One”.

While speaking recently with Comic Book, Jessica had nothing but praise for director Lana Wachowski and highlighted how the technical side of the project could again have a huge impact on the film industry. As the original film did help to shift the mature factor of storytelling alongside well-crafted action scenes with proper use of CGI and practical effects.

HENWICK: “There are definitely moment on set where Yahya [Abdul-Mateen II] and I look at each other and we just go, ‘Matrix 4’. Those pinch me moments. Yeah, Lana is doing some really interesting things on a technical level in the same way that you know, she created a style back then. I think she’s going to change the industry again with this film. There’s some camera rigs that I’ve never seen before that we’re using. That’s probably all I can say for that.”

This seems to echo other stuff we’ve heard previously heard about how gung ho Lana has been with this shoot as she has been directing the bulk of second unit action sequences which is normally handled by the stunt coordinator as it can be the more dangerous shots in the film.

The sequel’s cast also includes Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Ellen Hollman.

Fans like myself are hoping it’s a return to form as the two sequels didn’t have the same impact as the original and there is an expectation that Matrix 4 will be the start of a brand new trilogy possibly led by new actors like Jessica Henwwick with the original cast passing the torch.

While there has been some plenty of release date delays as the studio has moved up the release of Matrix 4 from April 1st, 2022, to December 22nd, 2021.

THE MATRIX – Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.


SOURCE: COMIC BOOK

Posted on in Film News

Hugo Weaving Says Lana Wachowski Pulled The Plug On His Return For ‘Matrix 4’

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

Posted on in Film News

Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss Cite Strong Script As Why They Returned For ‘Matrix 4’

I think we were all shocked when a fourth installment in the Matrix franchise was announced with original cast members returning to their roles after rumblings of a possible prequel or reboot being in the works with a Young Morpheus. 

Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves recently spoke with Empire dishing that they were both impressed with the script for Matrix 4 penned by Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell, and Aleksandar Hemon. Citing the script as a key reason for why they were willing to return to their respective roles of Trinity and Neo. 

MOSS: “When it was brought to me in the way that it was brought to me, with incredible depth and all of the integrity and artistry that you could imagine, I was like, ‘This is a gift.’ It was just very exciting.”

Reeves echoes Moss’ comments on the script and adding that he was eager to work with director Lana Wachowski again. 

REEVES: “Lana Wachowski wrote a beautiful script and a wonderful story that resonated with me. That’s the only reason to do it. To work with her again is just amazing. It’s been really special, and the story has, I think, some meaningful things to say, and that we can take some nourishment from.”

Filming had moved onto the German leg of the production after tackling some scenes shot in San Francisco, California before the Coronavirus pandemic paused things and there had been some suggestion that they’d resume sometime soon. 

The rest of the cast includes Jada Pinkett Smith returning as Niobe, Jessica Henwick (Godzilla vs Kong, Iron Fist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) playing a new Neo-like character, Neil Patrick Harris (Starship Troopers, Gone Girl), Toby Onwumere, Erendira Ibarra (Sense8), Ellen Hollman (Into The Badlands), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen, Aquaman).

Originally, Warner Bros. had given Matrix 4 a release date of May 21st, 2020 and a new date is most likely going to be announced shortly. 

Keanu Reeves is set to shoot John Wick: Chapter 4 once they complete filming on the Matrix sequel. 

SOURCE: EMPIRE