What Can We Expect From The Matrix Resurrections?
- Will Johnson
- Dec 1, 2021
- 3 min read
The iconic film series is getting it's final entry this Christmas. So what can we expect from it, how is the story going to play out, and will it enhance or tarnish The Matrix's reputation?
Who is involved?
The Matrix was the brainchild of twins Lana and Lilly Wachowski, and thankfully the Warner Brothers studio idea of doing a new Matrix film without them has not come to fruition. Despite Lilly not being involved due to other projects, Lana has directed the film solo and has written the script alongside previous collaborators Aleksander Hemon and David Mitchell.
On screen, both Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are back as Neo and Trinity, along with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Lambert Wilson and Daniel Bernhardt. Unfortunately, Hugo Weaving isn't returning due to scheduling conflicts, and neither is Laurence Fishburne who surprisingly wasn't even asked to join. Their portrayals of Agent Smith and Morpheus, respectively, are arguably more iconic than those of Reeves and Moss, so it's a shame that they aren't on board.
We'll also see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Christina Ricci making up the main cast. There's no overly big Hollywood names here who might overshadow the film, but plenty of excellent actors who will surely serve to strengthen it.
What do we know about the plot?
Unsurprisingly not much, as the Wachowski's have consistently kept an enigmatic air around the film. After the original films, the story was carried on through a series of video games, MMORPGs, comic books and animated films. In this continued story arc, Morpheus is killed off and so it was initially assumed that The Matrix Resurrections would be continuing on from this, hence no Laurence Fishburne. However, when the trailer appeared those speculations were put to bed; Morpheus is indeed returning, and now being portrayed by the excellent Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Whatever the reason for this change, and there are many theories abounding, it will undoubtedly divide fans.
From the trailer we know that Neo has regressed to being Thomas Anderson in the Matrix with no memory of past events, but he is haunted by flashbacks and soon enough Morpheus re-emerges to take him away again. There is also a particular focus on the red pill/blue pill dilemma, emphasised by the minimalist release poster and the use of Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit as the theme tune.
Will it live up to the original?
Judging by the trailer, The Matrix's unique blend of psychedelic action sequences, warped cyber aesthetics and elemental Platonic philosophy appears to all be there. With two decades of advancements in CGI to utilise it's bound to be a visual treat, but what The Matrix did better than any of its peers was balance this spectacle with intriguing and thought-provoking dialogue. There was plenty of philosophical discourse and moral examination throughout the original trilogy, and although some of it came across as a little pretentious, it gave the films a singular feeling which, no matter how many imitations there have been, is yet to be replicated. If The Matrix Resurrections gets this equilibrium right, along with the balance between nostalgia and progress, then we should be in for a thrilling final instalment.
The Matrix Resurrections will be in cinemas on 22nd December 2021.
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