The Matrix is far from exhausted. Which direction will he go this time?
Just a few days after The Matrix celebrated a quarter century since the premiere of the first landmark film, studio Warner Bros. announced that it is preparing a fifth installment. The series will be taken over by a different creator for the first time, and Lana Wachowski, who directed the not-so-well-received foursome called The Matrix Resurrections (2021), will oversee only from the position of executive producer.
That new creator will be the director and screenwriter Drew Goddard, who made the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale or the horror Cabin in the Mountains. In terms of screenwriting work, his name appeared in hits such as The Martian, Monstrum, World War Z or the TV series Lost, Daredevil or Alias.
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“Drew presented us with an idea that we believe is an incredible way to continue the world of The Matrix. He pays tribute to what Lana and Lily started more than 25 years ago, while bringing a unique perspective based on his love for the series and its characters,” explained Jesse Ehrman, head of production at Warner Bros. Studios, in an official statement.
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Although it is not yet clear whether Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) will appear in the upcoming film, the statement mentioning the characters of the Matrix world gives great hope – without their participation, the sequel can hardly be imagined. “It’s no exaggeration to say that The Matrix films changed cinema and my life,” said Goddard, adding, “Lana and Lilly’s unique artistic vision inspires me daily, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to tell stories in their world.”
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The fifth part will definitely not have an easy position, as it will try to break the downward trajectory that Matrix has been on since the third part of Revolutions. It earned $427 million in 2003, which was significantly less than Reloaded’s number two (741 million). The four dropped to just 159 million, which didn’t even cover the production costs of 190 million. However, it was during the pandemic and the studio immediately released the film as part of its streaming service, on which the Matrix brand is one of the proven classics that viewers love to return to. That’s exactly what the studio is counting on for sequel plans.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety
