A fifth Matrix film is in production, according to Warner Bros. It will be the first movie in the franchise to not have a Wachowski in the director’s chair. Instead, Drew Goddard (The Cabin the Woods, The Martian) is coming on board to write and direct.
Still, Lana Wachowski will serve as executive producer. During the announcement, it was not revealed whether or not series protagonists Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss) will be returning for the film.
“Drew came to Warner Bros. with a new idea that we all believe would be an incredible way to continue the Matrix world, by both honoring what Lana and Lilly began over 25 years ago and offering a unique perspective based on his own love of the series and characters,” Warner Bros. Motion Pictures President of Production Jesse Ehrman said in a statement. “The entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery is thrilled for Drew to be making this new Matrix film, adding his vision to the cinematic canon the Wachowskis’ spent a quarter of a century building here at the studio.”
“It is not hyperbole to say The Matrix films changed both cinema and my life,” added Goddard. “Lana and Lilly’s exquisite artistry inspires me on a daily basis, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to tell stories in their world.”
The Matrix is one of film’s greatest spectacles, standing the test of time for its unprecedented vision, cinematic techniques, and endless debate over its philosophical messages. The first film debuted in 1999 and is considered one of the best movies in history. For 18 years, the Matrix series was completed with a trilogy that concluded with two sequels filmed back-to-back, The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003).
Those who watched all three films made by Lana and Lily Wachowski know that the story comes to a definitive conclusion. However, Lana returned to write the script for a fourth film, The Matrix Resurrections (2021), which saw Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss reprising their iconic roles. Unfortunately, the film was not released to high praise, scoring an equally low score in the 60s on Rotten Tomatoes. It felt as if the plot forced a closed book to open back up to leave room for additional sequels. In an era of reboots across all major series, it comes as no surprise that The Matrix was a key target.
