The forthcoming fourth “The Matrix” feature brings back several key characters – specifically Keanu Reeves’ Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity who return for the follow-up to the original trilogy.
Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith is done and dusted character wise and Weaving has a scheduling conflict anyway. Supporting characters like Jada Pinkett Smith’s Niobe and Lambert Wilson’s Merovingian are also confirmed to be coming back.
Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus however? Nowhere to be found. Fishburne hasn’t commented on his absence until this week and he explained to New York Magazine (via The Wrap) that it’s because he was never asked:
“I have not been invited. Maybe that will make me write another play. I wish them well. I hope it’s great.”
He may not be involved, but he has no bad blood and is well aware of the impact that the original trilogy had on his career:
“It is probably the role that I’ll be best remembered for, which is great; it’s not the only thing I’ll be remembered for, which is better. What I get with him is I’ve got Darth Vader in this hand, and I’ve got Obi-Wan in that hand. I’ve got Bruce Lee, I’ve got Muhammad Ali shuffled in there, and I’ve got kung fu.”
Filming on the project recently resumed in Berlin with a variety of new safety procedures in place. Reeves recently spoke with the Associated Press and says the changes aren’t having a noticeable impact on the production as real thought has gone into how safety is being handled on the films:
“There’s really thoughtful, effective protocols in place, and the rhythm of filmmaking has been not really impacted or interrupted. I think everyone loves the project. If you’re ever going to get into any kind of situation that needs to be figured out or, ‘How do we do this,’ show business people are the best. We’re scrappy, we know how to get stuff done, we’re inventive, think on our feet… It goes back to like, ‘Let’s put on a show’… And that spirit is definitely alive and well in The Matrix.”
Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra, Jessica Henwick, and multiple “Sense8” alums like Brian J. Smith, Max Riemelt, Toby Onwumere and Erendira Ibarra also star in the film which is scheduled to hit cinemas on April 1st 2022.
