While reality can sometimes feel subjective, it remains a fact that The Matrix came out over twenty years ago. The original film blew audiences away in 1999, solidifying it as one of the most influential action movies ever made. Now, over two decades later, there's a new film in the franchise, The Matrix Resurrections. The new film has predictably been shrouded in mystery, but in the wake of the epic trailer that made the internet collectively say, "whoa," the producers of the film have released an official description of the fourth movie.
The official description reads, "The Matrix Resurrections is a continuation of the story established in the first Matrix film (1999). It reunites Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as cinematic icons Neo and Trinity in an expansion of their story that ventures back into the Matrix and even deeper down the rabbit hole. A mind-bending new adventure with action and epic scale, it’s set in a familiar yet even more provocative world where reality is more subjective than ever and all that’s required to see the truth is to free your mind."
Still pretty vague right? This is The Matrix after all. However, one key detail in this description may be the reference to the first film in the series. There's no mention of the sequels The Matrix Reloaded or The Matrix Revolutions. Obviously, those films remain canon to the overall story of The Matrix, but the emphasis on the first installment is interesting. Some eagle-eyed fans were also quick to notice that at one point in the Resurrections trailer, it appears that there are clips from the first film being projected onto a wall behind Neo. This could simply be a scene similar to the one in The Matrix Reloaded wherein The Architect is playing scenes taken straight from the films on his many TV's, but it's still a curious detail.
Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has more or less confirmed that he is playing Morpheus in the new film, the character made famous by Lawrence Fishburne. This has also left fans to speculate that Game of Thrones actress Jessica Henwick may be playing a different version of the character Trinity. So, does the new film take place in yet another version of The Matrix? Is that really Morpheus and Trinity, or a trick being played on Neo by the machines? Perhaps writer/director Lana Wachowski is getting super-meta and exploring the idea of a film within a film. Nobody knows, but it might be time to re-watch the first film for the eight-millionth time and search for more clues down the rabbit hole.
Referencing the first film also makes sense from a marketing perspective. While the Matrix sequels have their defenders, most fans seem to agree that they pale in comparison to the amazing first film.
Regardless, it seems that the twenty-year nostalgia cycle is a very real tangible thing. Consider the fact that on top of a new Matrix sequel, there is also a new Jackass movie and a Sopranos prequel coming out soon. So, don't be surprised if David Fincher's next film is Fight Club 2.
The Matrix Resurrections premieres in theatres and on HBO Max on December 22nd, 2021.
Source: The Wrap