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The Matrix Resurrections

Fourth Matrix film, released 2021, directed by Lana Wachowski.

The Matrix Resurrections, released in 2021, is an American science fiction action film co-produced and directed by Lana Wachowski. She wrote the screenplay alongside David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon. This movie serves as a direct follow-up to *The Matrix Revolutions* (2003) and is the fourth chapter in the Matrix series. The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lambert Wilson, Christina Ricci, Freema Agyeman, and Jada Pinkett Smith. The story takes place six decades after *Revolutions* and centers on Neo, who now lives an ordinary life as a video game developer struggling to tell fantasy from reality. A group of rebels, aided by a programmed version of Morpheus, break Neo out of a redesigned Matrix so he can battle a new enemy holding Trinity captive. After *Revolutions* came out, the Wachowskis repeatedly said no more Matrix films were coming. Warner Bros., however, kept pushing to revive the series and hired Zak Penn to draft a new script after the Wachowskis turned down every offer to make additional sequels. In late 2019, a fourth Matrix film was finally confirmed, with Lana Wachowski directing solo (Lilly did not return) and Reeves and Moss reprising their roles. Filming began in February 2020 but was paused the following month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wachowski considered scrapping the project, but the cast encouraged her to finish it. Production resumed in August and wrapped up three months later. The film premiered at San Francisco’s Castro Theater on December 16, 2021, and was released both in theaters and on HBO Max by Warner Bros. Pictures on December 22. Critics gave it positive reviews, but it performed poorly at the box office, earning only $160.2 million worldwide against a $190 million production budget. It earned a nomination for Best Special Visual Effects at the 75th British Academy Film Awards. A sequel is currently being developed, with Drew Goddard attached to write and direct. A young woman named Bugs notices the Matrix is repeating old code in a loop, replaying the moment when Trinity first found Neo inside the simulation. Bugs discovers a program that embodies Morpheus and helps free him.

Quick Facts

Director
Lana Wachowski
Writer
Lana Wachowski / David Mitchell / Aleksandar Hemon
Based On
Characters · The Wachowskis
Producer
James McTeigue / Lana Wachowski / Grant Hill
Starring
Keanu Reeves / Carrie-Anne Moss / Yahya Abdul-Mateen II / Jessica Henwick / Jonathan Groff / Neil Patrick Harris / Priyanka Chopra / Jada Pinkett Smith
Runtime
148 minutes
Music
Johnny Klimek / Tom Tykwer
Cinematography
Daniele Massaccesi / John Toll
Editing
Joseph Jett Sally
Studio
Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures / Venus Castina Productions
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Released
18 December 2021 · Castro Theater · 2021 · 12 · 22 · United States

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

The Matrix Resurrections is set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions. Neo (Keanu Reeves) lives as Thomas Anderson, a video game developer struggling to distinguish fantasy from reality. A group of rebels, aided by a programmed version of Morpheus, free Neo from a new Matrix and fight a new enemy holding Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) captive. The film features an ensemble cast including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Morpheus/Agent Smith, Jessica Henwick as Bugs, and Jonathan Groff as Smith.

Reader's Guide

Following the release of Revolutions, the Wachowskis denied the possibility of another Matrix film. Warner Bros. expressed interest in reviving the franchise, hiring Zak Penn to write a new screenplay after the Wachowskis refused offers. In late 2019, a fourth Matrix film was announced with Lana Wachowski returning as director without Lilly, and Reeves and Moss reprising their roles. Filming began in February 2020, was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and resumed in August, concluding three months later. The film premiered at the Castro Theater in San Francisco on December 16, 2021, and was released theatrically and on HBO Max on December 22. It received positive reviews but underperformed at the box office, grossing $160.2 million against a $190 million budget. It received a nomination for Best Special Visual Effects at the 75th British Academy Film Awards. A sequel is in development with Drew Goddard attached to write and direct.

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