The action franchise that made Keanu Reeves the highest-paid actor for a project is reportedly developing a fifth film. The Matrix franchise released three films in the late ’90s and early 2000s helmed by directors Lily and Lana Wachowski. A fourth film, The Matrix: Resurrections, was released in 2021, with only Lana Wachowski having directorial duties. As the franchise returns for a fifth planned film, neither of the Wachowski’s are returning to direct the film.
Fans are not sure about the fifth film, especially after the studio decided to appoint a new director. Drew Goddard, who created Daredevil for Netflix, will take over from the Wachowski’s. However, fans highly doubt that the lack of Wachowskis’ creative minds would help a fifth film.
Keanu Reeves’ The Matrix 5 May Be A Bad Idea According To Some Fans
According to Variety, Warner Bros. announced a fifth film in Keanu Reeves‘ The Matrix franchise, despite the commercial disappointment of the last film. The major change to the new film will be the addition of The Martian screenwriter Drew Goddard as the director. Lana Wachowski, who helmed The Matrix: Resurrections, will serve as an executive producer.
While plot details for the film haven’t been released, Warner Bros. is not planning to stray too far from the fantasy world created in the initial films. Fans are not entirely on board with the idea of a fifth film, that too without the WWachowski’s at the helm. While the latest film from the franchise was underwhelming, the duo had created some extraordinary cinematic work in the first few films.
One fan on X shared that Warner Bros. should’ve stopped after the fourth film’s failure, adding that more films will only contribute to tarnishing the impact of the original trilogy. Another fan felt that the fourth film should’ve served as a lesson for the filmmakers, but they apparently didn’t learn from that. One comment perfectly explained that The Matrix: Resurrections opened the door for more nonsense add-ons.
Fans also criticized WB’s move as a tactic to milk a few more million out of the franchise. Some urged the studio to create something original rather than to use these sequel/remake tactics. Some of the fan reactions read:
After the fourth entry, there's absolutely no need for this. More sequels are just going to tarnish the impact of the original.
— boberts (@Boberts227) April 3, 2024
I guess that fourth movie failing completely wasn’t enough of a lesson for the studio
— Author John A. Douglas (@BlkCrownAuthor) April 3, 2024
The fourth one felt like an afterthought, and it damaged the foundation concept IMO. Felt like a soft reboot opening the door for nonsense add-ons.
— Shadow Mann (@ShadowMann9) April 3, 2024
they figure they can milk a few more millions out of the franchise after the watchowski's fumbled the fourth movie on purpose
— ✨😇 Composite Man 👹✨ (@slimbo_klice) April 3, 2024
Maybe just create something new?
— Taser ///🕯️🕯️🕯️👀 (@Tokewitch) April 3, 2024
It is expected that Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will return to their roles as Neo and Trinity in the film. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas will also return after making their appearances in the previous film.
WB Is Thrilled About Drew Goddard Helming The Matrix 5
Warner Bros. Motion Pictures president of production Jesse Ehrman shared in a statement that Drew Goddard approached WB with a new idea for The Matrix. The studio felt that Goddard’s idea was an incredible way to continue the films. Ehrman stated that it would honor Wachowski’s work that began over 25 years ago, while also offering a new perspective. Ehrman also added that the studio was thrilled about Goddard’s project. Ehrman shared (via Variety):
“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. 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.”
Goddard wrote the screenplay for films like Cloverfield, World War Z, and The Martian, the latter of which earned him a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. His first directorial venture was The Cabin in the Woods. He is currently one of the frontrunners in consideration to helm Marvel’s Spider-Man 4 after Jon Watts left the film series.
The Matrix films are now available for streaming on Max.
