June is pride month, with LGBTQ+ people and their allies celebrating how far the community has come, while coming together in solidarity for future battles. Some folks like to watch content that tells queer stories during this time, and there are a number of Netflix shows that have great gay representation. But I think that one of the streaming service's first shows is especially worth a watch: Lana Wachowski's Sense8.

Those with a Netflix subscription were treated to two seasons of the show before Sense8 was cancelled back in 2017. But fans campaigned for more, especially after the wild cliffhanger that Season 2 ended on. Eventually Netflix green lit a finale movie, which wrapped things up in an epic and moving way. And I think that it's the perfect show to watch for newbies during Pride Month, or re-watch for longtime fans like me.

Sense8 Is Queer AF, And Is An Empowering Watch For Pride Month

Sense8 is a fascinating sci-fi story, where eight strangers scattered across the planet suddenly are given a unique psychic connection to each other. They can "visit" with each other and speak, or can inhabit each other's body. Their connection gets deeper as more episodes go on, and with the group (called a Cluster) are able to experience their individual lives and their "siblings" at the same time. The show was shot across various countries, and is a visual treat.

The series originally introduces a few queer characters. First and foremost there's Jamie Clayton's Nomi, an American trans woman who is hacktivist with impressive skills on the computer. Then there's Lito (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) a closeted Spanish actor who is trying to keep his same-sex relationship a secret for the sake of his career. Both of these stories are handled with care by The Wachowskis, who are trans women themselves that came out in the 2010s.

As The Cluster harness their psychic connection get to know each other, the characters fiercely stand up for their LGBTQ+ siblings, including action sequences and gun fights. The Wachowskis put their signature sensibilities for action into the show, in addition to the sweet, character-driven stories. Eventually the lines of sexuality begin to fade away among The Cluster, including a number of "psychic orgies", where the characters have sex simultaneously across multiple countries.

The show includes moving coming out scenes, standing up to transphobia and bigotry, as well as the main cast accepting each other unconditionally. And Sense8's finale movie takes things even further with crazy action, a wedding, and (yes) one more wild psychic orgy. I give the show a re-watch every few years, and I think June might be the perfect excuse to it another go.

Sense8 is streaming in its entirety over on Netflix. While the show ended too soon, it's impact is still very much felt by those who followed The Cluster.

The success of co-writer/director Greta Gerwig’s 2023 movie release Barbie feels reminiscent of that moment 15 years ago when Iron Man first put the MCU on the map. Toy-based movies, especially ones based on Mattel products, are now starting to head up in development, and Hot Wheels is the next project that could be revving up at the starting line. 

As this potential major motion picture saw producer J.J. Abrams jump on board last year, a new report from THR has noted that a director is now being sought out for development. If Warner Bros. wants to strike it rich again, there are a couple of parties they should be considering to jump into the Hot Wheels driver’s seat.I have a solid list of competitors for the job, so without any further delay, here’s my lineup of directing talent intended to give this automotive saga the boost it deserves.

The Wachowskis

With Hot Wheels already set up in development at Warner Bros, it’d be nice for someone with a home court advantage to be involved. Not to mention, it helps if whoever’s being considered has experience with the sort of kinetic action and racing drama this Mattel IP will surely inspire. 

On both of those fronts, it feels like a no brainer to enlist Lana and Lilly Wachowski as the brains to bring these toy cars to life. As if decades of working with this particular studio wasn’t enough of a reason to have these talented ladies sign on the dotted line, they’ve practically auditioned for the gig already. 

In the 15 years since its release, the world has found reasons to support Speed Racer, an under-appreciated film that is slowly getting its due. While this isn’t quite the sequel they’d already had planned for that 2008 thrill ride, Hot Wheels is a chance for The Wachowskis to revive their hyper colorful “car-fu” aesthetic for another spin on this new track.

Neill Blomkamp

The more anyone talks about Hot Wheels as a movie, the more opportunities come up for people to doubt just how you’d make a movie based on this lore-less toy brand. It’s a challenge that sees two solid options as a start: either find a real-life story that somehow has a clever tie into the toys, or dive head first into an imaginative pitch. Luckily, director Neill Blomkamp could do both.

In my Gran Turismo review, I celebrated Blomkamp’s efforts to not only tell a grounded true story, but also to honor the Sony PlayStation game to which it was connected. So if there’s a hook in either of those respects, you could see Neill succeeding at making these tiny cars into a big deal. 

In this scenario, I’d personally hope for Neill Blomkamp to go for the more imaginative fiction route. That's thanks to his District 9 sensibilities suggesting some neat racing drama and killer track designs with some sci-fi flare to them. Either case would be a win, as Neill brings the same hunger and precision to either side of the reality spectrum. 

Joseph Kosinski

Looking at the qualifications I feel are required to make this sort of project work, another familiar name popped up in consideration. Thanks to his work on movies like Tron: Legacy and Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski is another gold star candidate to shape this universe into something that’d be a true delight to see.

Maverick feels especially important in this case, as that Tom Cruise blockbuster was a perfect blend of speed, heart and white knuckle suspense. Mr. Kosinski is even brushing up his automotive action chops at the moment thanks to his Formula 1 movie that allegedly has Brad Pitt driving some real race cars. 

As work on that project is more than likely stalled thanks to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes currently in place, Joseph Kosinski might not have room on his dance card for Hot Wheels. Then again, developing this idea to take off as soon as he’s able to complete that Apple original film might be a good move for his future self. 

Lexi Alexander

Speaking of those early Marvel Cinematic Universe days, there’s another creative talent who could very easily make some excitement in the burgeoning world of toy-based movies. Director Lexi Alexander oversaw the underrated Marvel movie Punisher: War Zone, delivering a fresh take on costumed heroes long before the market even knew it needed such a thing.

Hot Wheels is just the sort of project that could use her various sets of skills to its advantage. As an experienced director of television episodes from the Arrowverse, as well as being a veteran stunt performer herself, Ms. Alexander could develop a truly bonkers version of this movie that delivers the thrilling experience that producer J.J. Abrams wants to deliver. 

On the wild chance that Warner Bros could want a harder edged, but still PG-13 movie on its hands, Lexi Alexander is a fantastic choice for that sort of aim. Though even in the realm of safe for network action, her prowess would still be able to wow the crowd while dialing down the carnage.

James Mangold

How do you discuss racing movies without at least mentioning Ford v. Ferrari’s James Mangold? Considering how well received that racing biopic happened to be, I feel like I’d be a fool for not mentioning Mr. Mangold in this line of contention. 

As the Logan director has tackled plenty of blockbusters and indie films in his time, the greatest asset James brings to the table is his ability to work with any era of this landmark brand. If Warner Bros wants a retro Hot Wheels caper, that Ford v. Ferrari and 3:10 to Yuma magic can shine again. 

Should the studio want something more modern or futuristic, James Mangold’s time in the X-Men universe would be the key to that project. Then again, all caution could be thrown to the wind, allowing Mangold to tackle the whole toybox. There’s a chance that he just might make us all cry while delivering the goods. 

Christopher McQuarrie

Another busy bee who might not have the bandwidth to get into Hot Wheels, despite being a perfect fit for it, is Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One’s Christopher McQuarrie. As a writer and director on the last few installments of Tom Cruise’s ongoing espionage thrill ride, McQ’s efforts to deliver hard driving action and engaging storytelling is another formula that could run this toy-based world. 

Though he’s continuing to drive the bus for the adventures of Ethan Hunt, with ideas for Mission: Impossible 9 already in mind, McQuarrie is still a prime choice to put into this sandbox. It may have to be a more effects-driven shoot, as the world of Hot Wheels isn’t totally rooted in reality, but you can be assured that Christopher McQuarrie would get as practical as possible with the Mattel IP. This would admittedly give a certain edge to those crashing fantasies every kid would play out with their own set of these miniature motor vehicles.

Edgar Wright

For my final choice in this challenge to find the right director for Hot Wheels, I'm going with another heartfelt favorite. Edgar Wright is a director that grabs from all of the bags mentioned throughout the rest of the pack. 

He’s worked with colorful IPs like Scott Pilgrim that have become colorful cult favorites, as well as had experience with the MCU machine thanks to his cancelled version of Ant-Man. And yet again, the ace in deck for Wright’s potential hiring comes from his practical experience with adventurous car stunts thanks to Baby Driver. 

Combining his past experiences with his unique voice, Edgar Wright could turn Hot Wheels into a subversively pulp journey. Plus, the Cornetto Trilogy mastermind wouldn’t skimp on the color or the soundtrack to help drive what would be insane thrills. If Mr. Wright were ever to consider trying to make a massive blockbuster again, Hot Wheels is the sweet spot that would allow him to make it his own while also staying in the lane of this particular brand.

As we’ve now crossed the finish line, it’s time for me to remind you all that sadly, everything above is pure speculation. How long that will remain a reality is a mystery, as Warner Bros. sounds pretty set on finding a director for Hot Wheels as soon as possible. In the meantime, fans can enjoy Barbie’s finished product, as it’s still dominating the box office at a theater near you; a fact that could only intensify this search even further in the days to come.

As The Matrix brings to light, oftentimes the line between reality and fantasy can become blurred these days. In terms of filmmaking, that’s especially true when it comes to high-flying stunts. Of course, when the audience is watching the movie, the goal is for us to be fully immersed in the experience, but with practical filmmaking being less popular these days, it’s important to highlight when it does happen. SO for those who didn't know, in The Matrix: Resurrections, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss straight up jumped off a building. 

In a memorable scene in the 2021 Matrix sequel, Neo and Trinity jump off a skyscraper hand-in-hand. The two actors were on wires attached to a rig over 550 feet above ground for the cinematic moment. According to one of the SFX supervisors, J.D. Schwalm, the big “nerve-wracking” stunt almost didn’t happen. In his words: 

While speaking to Yahoo Entertainment, The Matrix Resurrections crew member shared that the big moment almost didn’t happen due to it perhaps being too dangerous for the actors. As you can imagine, there are a lot of factors involved on movie sets, and if one thing went wrong and Reeves and Moss ended up falling off the rig, it’d be a tragedy and publicity nightmare for all involved. 

Lana Wachowski, who directed and co-wrote Resurrections after helming the original 1999 classic with her sister Lilly, shared in a Matrix bonus feature that she wanted the moment between Neo and Trinity to feel “completely real.” With the production team, they crafted a way to have the Matrix stars jump from a 43-story skyscraper in San Francisco. Check out how it was done: 

The stunt required a month of training from the team and some serious bravery from Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, who were attached with wires onto the rig before literally jumping off the building and being suspended in the air, as you see in the movie. Wachowski recalled the scene being “pure cinema magic” in execution – thankfully the cast and crew were able to safely pull it off. 

The Matrix Resurrections came out in December to mixed reactions overall and dealt with competition of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has since become an over $1 billion hit. You can relive the big stunt on digital now or wait for the Blu-ray and DVD release on March 8. You can also stream the original Matrix trilogy with an HBO Max subscription. 

With the fourth installment of The Matrix franchise holding steady in theaters and streaming on HBO Max for a new generation to dive into the mind bending action, fans of the original trilogy may find this the perfect time to revisit the groundbreaking films. Franchise star Keanu Reeves is certainly thinking back to the original films, as he fondly recalls the memory of the first day of filming The Matrix and a sweet moment he witnessed between the Wachowski sisters.

During a segment for The Reel Rejects where The Matrix Resurrections star answered trivia questions, Keanu Reeves drops the memory of an adorable moment between Lana and Lilly Wachowski on the first day of filming The Matrix so many years ago. According to Reeves, day one of filming went so well that the Wachowskis shared a sly, instinctive high five that he was lucky enough to catch. Here’s what he says, exactly:

There is a ton of work that goes into a film way before the first day of filming ever even happens, so once that day came for the Wachowskis on a film like The Matrix I can only imagine how strong feelings were on set that day. I would think that seeing their vision come together and being put on film would turn into a pretty powerful core memory.

Keanu Reeves wasn’t even a participant in the high five, and it seems to have been a memory he cherishes, and it certainly meant something to him. It sounds like it signified a job well done, and it really set the tone for a successful filming experience.

While Keanu Reeves certainly wasn’t a newbie in the movie business when he was cast in The Matrix, he wasn’t nearly as accomplished as he is now, and being a part of the franchise actually helped really catapult his career. The Matrix made him into the action star he is now, and it’s hard to say if he would be John Wick without the role of Neo. That successful first day of filming end-capped with that sweet Wachowski high five could have been a pretty defining moment for the actor. 

Both Wachowskis may not have been involved in the making of the newest Matrix film, but that’s not to say the sisters didn’t have some off-set high fives in celebration of the throwback sequel. You can check out The Matrix Resurrections in theaters if you haven’t already, or you can stream it at home on HBO Max right along with the other films in the franchise.

After nearly two decades, Neo and Trinity are back in the fourth installment of the mind-altering sci-fi action Matrix series with The Matrix Resurrections. The film will be released both in theaters and on HBO Max on Wednesday, December 22, and the reviews are in to help you decide if, when and how you want to check out this latest sequel. It is, as they say, the most wonderful time of the year to question your reality.

Despite dying in the third film, The Matrix Revolutions, Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) are alive and living ordinary lives until a new Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) reopens their minds to a more dangerous Matrix than they previously knew. Along with Reeves and Moss, the film sees the return of director Lana Wachowski and co-stars Jada Pinkett Smith and Lambert Wilson. 

Let’s dive in and see what the critics have to say about The Matrix Resurrections, starting with our own CinemaBlend review. Eric Eisenberg rated the new sequel 3.5 stars out of 5, saying the beginning of The Matrix Resurrections is so good it raises viewers’ expectations to a level that the rest of the movie can’t meet. Overall enjoyment of the film will likely be determined by which section sticks out most prominently to the viewer. 

Amelia Emberwing of IGN gave The Matrix Resurrection a 4 out of 10, saying it is “jaw-droppingly misguided,” but still has good and nostalgic aspects. The reunion of Neo and Trinity is delightful, and the additions of Jonathan Groff and Jessica Henwick to the Matrix franchise are possibly the best part. But its attempts at being meta — telling the audience that reboots are silly — miss the mark and only strengthen the argument of those who say remakes and sequels are blatant corporate cash grabs. 

Riley Silverman of Nerdist gave the film a 3 out of 5, saying it certainly feels like it belongs in the Matrix franchise, and while it brings a surprising number of comedic moments and a “skin-crawling” final action sequence, how much viewers enjoy the previous sequels may play a part in their impression of this one.

Joshua Rothkopf of EW graded the movie a B+, and while he says it’s not without its faults, he makes specific note about the romance between Keanu Reeves’ Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity — an aspect that is lauded in a number of critics’ reviews.

William Bibbiani of The Wrap agreed that the depth given to Neo and Trinity’s relationship actually makes the previous three movies retroactively better. And overall, the self-awareness of the movie begs audiences to ask if the reboot culture of Hollywood is another Matrix itself. 

As expected with this franchise, the critics are split over whether or not the meta reboot angle of The Matrix Resurrections landed with its audiences. What seems to be pretty universally agreed on is the prevalent chemistry between its stars and welcome addition of new villains to the universe. If the red pill is your choice, you can catch The Matrix Resurrections in theaters and HBO Max starting Wednesday, December 21. Be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what’s coming up in the new year.

After more than half-a-decade of recorded success, the “remakequel” trend in Hollywood is still going strong. After the successes of Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World, Ryan Coogler’s Creed, J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, David Gordon Green’s Halloween, and Tim Miller’s Terminator: Dark Fate, the prevailing mindset in the industry continues to recognize that there’s no upside to remaking a movie or rebooting a continuity when there’s the option to revive major franchises with new chapters that are specifically built to echo the past.

And now it’s The Matrix’s turn. Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix Resurrections is very much a project that feels cut from the same cloth as those major productions, as what’s old is new again, and redemption is sought for previous disappointments.

In that effort, the new blockbuster is mostly successful, as it builds on the established canon, has its own raison d'etre for bringing back the world and characters, and unleashes a series of explosive set pieces – but it’s also a production that stands out as being exceptionally uneven. The first act of The Matrix Resurrections is an absolutely blissful cinematic experience; the second act is a slog burdened with the over-familiar and heavy doses of plot; and the conclusion is fortunately solid enough to make up for the missteps that precede it.

Written by Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell, and Aleksandar Hemon, The Matrix Resurrections picks up approximately 20 years after the events of the original trilogy, and reintroduces Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) as a world-famous video game designer and cofounder of the company Binary who has some messy psychological issues. While he’s generally able to keep it together and live a normal life, he is occasionally plagued by feelings of unreality, which his therapist (Neil Patrick Harris) is more than happy to tamp down with a prescription of unmarked blue pills that keep Thomas’ mind at rest.

Things begin to change as a result of a confluence of two events – specifically Thomas meeting an oddly familiar woman named Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss), whom he feels he knows despite having never met her, and a programmer named Bugs (Jessica Henwick) who has been freed from The Matrix and discovers a new version of legendary hacker Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). The protagonist is put on a path to not only rediscover the delineation between the real world and the digital one created by machines, but also reclaim the lost, powerful love that once successfully changed existence.

The Matrix Resurrections gets off to a sprinting start with a first act that is a brilliant, meta blast.

It’s a strange thing to say, but the beginning of The Matrix Resurrections is almost too great for the good of the movie, as it creates a high bar that the rest of the film can’t match. After nearly two decades of the Wachowskis refusing to make a new Matrix movie as a cash grab, the first act of the new sequel unleashes spectacular Gremlins 2-level meta cynicism that is utterly delightful, with a new iteration of Smith (Jonathan Groff) set up as Thomas Anderson’s business partner who is greenlighting a new version of their company’s biggest hit: The Matrix.

Lana Wachowski very clearly has a blast tearing into the corporate side of Hollywood (Warner Bros. is even made to be the Binary’s parent company), and the movie effectively builds the story alongside these satirical developments – with Neo being the substitute for the filmmaker, not only struggling in the clash between business and art, but getting lost in the mix between creation and reality.

Save for some cool action, the middle of The Matrix Resurrections is surprisingly dull.

Unfortunately, The Matrix Resurrections is unable to sustain that wonderful metafiction energy as the plot takes over. The movie is at first able to get away with the way it mirrors the events of the original 1999 blockbuster, with characters aware with the original narrative directly pointing at the similarities and differences between the way things are unfolding, but that “wink wink” energy fades away and what’s left is the film just bringing back familiar beats and catching audiences up with what’s been happening in the world outside of The Matrix.

After an opening that makes such a strong argument for the existence of the story, the gut of The Matrix Resurrections falls into the same kind of exposition traps and clunky plotting that made The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions such disappointments back in 2003. There’s entertainment compensation in the form of a big warehouse fight with some exciting choreography and cinematography, but it’s a drag given what it follows.

The third act of The Matrix Resurrections gets the movie back on track with an explosive and exciting climax.

The Matrix Resurrections is troublesome for a long stretch, and you get concerned that it won’t be able to pull out of the nose dive – but it does, and it delivers a successful conclusion that works primarily because of the palpable passion that Lana Wachowski has for Neo and Trinity. The movie’s attempt at action innovation don’t hit the spectacular highs of “Bullet Time,” as the introduction and application of what’s referred to as “Swarm Mode” in the chaotic finale is a bit too reminiscent of assorted zombie films we’ve seen in the last 20 years, but the insanity keeps its two protagonists at the heart of it all, and it works because of an authenticity and intensely broadcast connection between them. The punching, kicking, and shooting is cool, but it’s made satisfying because of the relationship at the center of everything.

The wild swings in The Matrix Resurrections almost certainly mean that the film is going to get a divisive response, as audiences are likely to love the parts that work, and hate the parts that don’t, and their ultimate takeaways are going to be dictated by which stand out more prominently in reflection. At the very least it’s an exciting return to the roots of one of the most groundbreaking movies in history, and, thanks to a low bar, the best Matrix sequel we’ve seen.

The science fiction genre was forever changed as a result of The Wachowski’s groundbreaking blockbuster The Matrix and its subsequent sequels. The trilogy revolutionized visual effects and bullet-timing, which was emulated countless times by other filmmakers across the years. Keanu Reeves is back as Neo in the new sequel The Matrix Resurrections, and gleefully revealed his “craziest’ stunt for the new movie.

The generations of Matrix fans were thrilled that the franchise is heading back to theaters with Resurrections, especially since Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss were back as Neo and Trinity. Fans can’t wait to see them kicking ass and taking names, although there was one wild stunt that Reeves reveals was his craziest. He had to:

Yeah, that sounds pretty crazy. In an age where so much action and stunts are done via visual effects, both Keanu Reeves and his co-star Carrie-Anne Moss physically jumped off a building for The Matrix Resurrections. We’ll just have to wait and see how thrilling the sequence looks on the big screen.

Keanu Reeves’ comments about his Matrix Resurrections stunt comes to us from a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. With his return to Neo just weeks away, anticipation for the mysterious blockbuster is at a fever pitch. While the public is in the dark regarding the actual plot of the movie, he definitely made headlines when filming that wild skyscraper jump. 

Later in that same interview, Stephen Colbert asked why Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss simply didn’t rely on visual effects to make such an insane Matrix Resurrections stunt happen. The John Wick icon got honest, saying:

Well, there you have it. It sounds like both Lana Wachowski and the cast of The Matrix Resurrections wanted to make the stunts feel as real as possible. What’s more, Keanu Reeves eventually got a kick out of jumping from such a great height with his co-star Carrie-Anne Moss. And that’s why he’s “The One”

Jumping off of a building sounds terrifying to do once, but since The Matrix Resurrections is such a massive blockbuster, Keanu Reeves wasn’t able to get off so easily. Instead, he took a number of takes for the stunt, ensuring that the best possible coverage was acquired for the theatrical cut. While discussing it with Stephen Colbert, Reeves shared:

Of course, this is far from the only insane stunt expected to occur throughout the mysterious runtime of The Matrix Resurrections. Lana Wachowski also set off wild explosions in San Francisco, while the trailers show some of the epic action filmed by the likes of newcomers Jessica Henwick and Jonathan Groff. As a reminder, you can check it out below,

As previously mentioned, anticipation for The Matrix Resurrections has been steadily building, especially thanks to the cryptic but thrilling trailers. The cast and crew have been careful to guard the secrets of the project, while also praising Lana Wachowski’s vision for the iconic property.

The Matrix Resurrections will hit theaters and HBO Max on December 22nd. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Given the popular trend of nostalgia in the entertainment industry, various beloved franchises have returned to theaters. Case in point: Lana Wachowski’s upcoming blockbuster The Matrix Resurrections. And while the highly anticipated sequel looks super intense, Keanu Reeves has a different take on the mysterious project.

Generations of Matrix fans were thrilled to learn that the iconic science-fiction property would be returning for another installment-- including original cast members like Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, and the always delightful Keanu Reeves. The franchise is known for being pretty serious, but Reeves was recently quoted saying he was “struck by how much humor is in it.” As the Bill and Ted icon put it,

Well, I’m certainly intrigued. Not much concrete information is known about the contents of The Matrix Resurrections, but it seems that Lana Wachowski’s return to the franchise may be doing a bit of genre-bending. Luckily movieogers won’t have to wait too long to see exactly what this new big screen adventure will include.

Keanu Reeves’ comments to EW are sure to pique the interest of hardcore Matrix fans out there, who are curious about what’s coming with Resurrections. While the cast and crew have been guarding the secrets of the upcoming blockbuster, the limited footage has teased what a visual spectacle it’ll be. But the comedic beats haven’t been shared with the public-- with the exception being Neo in a bath tub with a rubber duck on his head.

It’s been nearly two decades since The Matrix Revolutions hit theaters, and seemingly ended the science fiction franchise as we knew it. But the story is getting new life, with dead characters like Neo and Trinity miraculously being brought back. There are countless questions about what’s to come in Resurrections, including the use of comedy in Lana Wachowski’s R-Rated flick.

Despite the high anticipating for The Matrix Resurrections, the secrets of the movie have miraculously been kept under wraps. As such, audiences should be treated to a full theatrical experience, complete with the franchise’s signature twists and turns. As a reminder, you can check out the trailer below,

It should be interesting to see exactly what comes when The Matrix Resurrections finally hits theaters, complete with pulse-pounding action and insane stunt work by Keanu Reeves and company. The movie made headlines for setting off insane explosions during production, and for Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss even jumping off of sky scrapers. And apparently that dynamic duo will be able to flex their funny bones as well.

The Matrix Resurrections is currently set to arrive in theaters and HBO Max on December 22nd. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s already mind-melting enough that co-writer/director Lana Wachowski is making another Matrix sequel. Going further down the rabbit hole, the first trailers to what would eventually be known as The Matrix Resurrections have already sparked many questions in die-hard fans and newcomers alike. Prepare to fall even further into the mystery of Keanu Reeves’ return as Neo, thanks to a new Matrix Resurrections video that combines the original movie with a ton of new, trippy footage. 

Focusing in hard on the concept of déjà vu in The Matrix, Warner Bros. dropped a new tease to the mysteries that await, as well as the date and time that we can all finally buy tickets. Transitioning between moments and characters seen in the original trilogy, and the pieces of The Matrix Resurrections that link heavily into those references, one thought is constantly repeated. It appears that there’s a glitch in The Matrix, and it’s the cause of everything we’re about to see turned on its head; which involves new incarnations for some characters, and fresh looks for others. 

As far as those fresh looks are concerned, we already knew that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was playing the re-skinned version of Lawrence Fishburne’s Morpheus; and he definitely gets some very familiar moments in this new footage. However, we haven’t seen any signs of Lambert Wilson’s returning character, the infamous Merovingian...until now. Courtesy of the image below, you’ll see that the man once clothed in the finest suits has changed quite a bit in the almost two decades since we last saw him:

That’s probably the toughest before/after comparison we’ve seen since Mr. White went from well tailored big shot in Quantum of Solace to running for his life in Spectre. The image above doesn't even do it total justice, so if you really want to experience The Merovingian's ultimate downgrade, skip to around 00:22 in the trailer and let the moment play out. That's nothing compared our latest looks at whoever Jonathan Groff is playing in The Matrix Resurrections, which connect with two huge figures in The Matrix's iconography.

Groff's still unnamed character is shown overlapping with both Neo and Agent Smith in The Matrix 4's latest trailer. The choice Neo moment that we see presented is a rather interesting, as well as what other pieces of the puzzle seem to suggest about this shadowy figure. Take a look at this segment, which is very reminiscent of 1999 history: 

Groff seems to have the melting mouth moment that Neo encountered in the early phases of his journey in The Matrix, but we also find him facing off against Mr. Anderson in the big train station fight that happens towards the end of the 1999 classic.  Only this time, he doesn't look to be in the role of Neo. Such overlapping signals play to the theory that Jonathan Groff could inherit the role of an Agent Smith protagonist, as well as the suggestion that “The One” in this revolution of Matrix code could have broken bad. Of course, none of this is confirmed yet, and we’re left to ask even more questions, in addition to the ones we already have, connected to this potential mind bender.

As we inch closer to the release of the latest Matrix mystery, there’s still plenty of time for wild theories, and collecting of various clips that are leaked out through international marketing campaigns. The pieces are out there, and fans only need to assemble them to come closer to the truth. Knowing how good the marketing machine behind The Matrix Resurrection’s predecessors was at keeping secrets, that’s probably still won’t be enough to uncover the full scope of what’s going on. That’s something you can’t just tell fans, as they’ll have to experience it for themselves.  

The Matrix Resurrections hits theaters and HBO Max in simultaneous release on December 22; with tickets going on sale as of 9 AM PT, on Monday, December 6th. Not only is that a perfect palindrome, but it’s also a fitting strategy for a movie that’s going to have people discussing plenty of theories, hot takes, and general questions for some time after. Déjà vu, much like The Matrix, has us all in its hold again, and it might be a good time to revisit The Matrix Trilogy, which is currently streaming on HBO Max. 

18 years ago The Matrix Revolutions was released, and the two main characters died. The Matrix franchise was wrapped up with a pretty tight bow, or so everyone, including the Wachowski Sisters, thought. Now that The Matrix Resurrections is almost here and will bring back those long dead characters, the sequel has been screened by co-writer David Mitchell. And he explains just why the new film isn’t just a sequel at all, but a “beautiful and weird creation” that stands alone against the typical blockbuster action film.

Seeing how The Matrix franchise left off so long ago and the otherworldly nature of the franchise, it makes sense that we can expect something totally unexpected in the new sequel. The Matrix Resurrections co-writer David Mitchell, who helped take the place of Lilly Wachowski in the project, opens up to To Vima (via CBR) and explains just what we won’t see in the film. Specifically, that it’s not going to be comparable to other blockbusters and sequels. Here’s what Mitchell says, exactly:

While it’s a strong vote of confidence in hearing that The Matrix Resurrections isn’t going to be just another reboot or sequel in the revival phase Hollywood seems to be going through these days, we still have no idea what’s about to happen in this movie. There are plenty of wild theories of course, but we won’t really know until the film is released for us all to see. Thankfully, we’ve avoided any Matrix-ruining spoilers and we can go in with little expectations past some action and a Keanu Reeves bathtub scene. 

The big problem with a Matrix sequel is obviously the fact that Neo and Trinity are supposed to be dead. Of course, the impossible seems to happen in The Matrix all the time, and there are countless ways their return could unfold, including the theory that the first 3 films were just a video game that takes place in the 4th film. I know, mind blown. 

No matter how Lana Wachowski and David Mitchell do it, though, there’s not much room to deny that our minds are indeed going to be blown. With the film now finished and Mitchell hyping up some major artistry in the film, I honestly can’t wait to see it and let that creatively unfold. 

The Matrix Resurrections is set to release in just a few weeks on December 22nd, just in time to be a nice Christmas gift for longtime fans. You’ll be able to check out the films in theaters nationwide or stream it at home exclusively on HBO Max.

The Matrix Resurrections was a long time coming. The fourth installment in the seminal sci-fi saga is being released nearly two decades after the third, The Matrix Revolutions. While that’s a pretty big gap, it’s better than not getting another film at all. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, that’s almost exactly what happened: director Lana Wachowski nearly dropped the project altogether. 

Jessica Henwick, a newcomer to the Matrix series, recently spoke with Collider about the intense training that went into The Matrix Resurrections and the shut-down that threatened the film’s release. The movie was in the middle of production when COVID-19 forced the cast and crew to sequester themselves in quarantine. According to Jessica Henwick, the break made director Lana Wachowski reconsider the fate of the film. She said: 

Luckily for Jessica Henwick and The Matrix fans everywhere, Lana Wachowski chose to complete The Matrix Resurrections after getting the green light to resume production. It would have been a shame for the movie to never see the light of day, given the huge hype surrounding the project. And it seems like all of Jessica Henwick’s insane training would have gone to waste as well. Fortunately, if the trailer is any indication, The Matrix Resurrections looks like it will include all of the mind-bending action and sci-fi violence that characterized the first three entries in the series. So get ready, Matrix fans: it looks like we’re taking another red pill. 

The Matrix Resurrections will hit theaters and HBO Max on December 22, 2021. Jessica Henwick will star alongside series veterans Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Newcomers to the world of the Matrix include Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jonathan Groff. 

Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s starpower has been steadily growing over the past few years. He’s got a number of highly anticipated film projects coming down the line, including The Matrix Resurrections. And Abdul-Mateen recently recalled going out and celebrating that casting while in the middle of press for Watchmen.

HBO’s Watchmen series was universally acclaimed, as was Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s dual performance as Cal/ Doctor Manhattan. He would win an Emmy for this role, making way for even more work from the actor. Abdul-Mateen recently opened up about auditioning for the part of Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections, saying:

And just like that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was able to join yet another massive franchise with The Matrix 4. It sounds like he really put the work into the material, and also had good chemistry with creator/director Lana Wachowski. We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out in the mysterious fourth movie.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s comments come from his recent appearance on the podcast Jemele Hill is  Unbothered. Now that The Matrix 4 has released its first trailer, there are even more questions about what Lana Wachowski has in store for fans in the new sequel. Abdul-Matteen was careful to continue guarding the secrets of the blockbuster, and there’s no telling what he’ll be bringing to the table as Morpheus-- the role originated by the great Laurence Fishburne.

Later in his same interview, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II went on to share how he celebrated landing a dream job in The Matrix Resurrections. There was just one complication: he was in the middle of press for Watchmen when he landed the role. As he explained,

It was the fall of 2019 when Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was cast in The Matrix 4, the same time that Watchmen was gearing up for its series premiere. And while he originally wanted to stay home and get to bed early, Abdul-Mateen II is now glad that he went out to celebrate. After all, it sounds like a very exciting time in the 35 year-old actor’s life.

As previously mentioned, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is taking on the mantle of Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections. It’s currently unclear how/why Lana Wachowski is putting a new spin on the character, but she found a killer actor to step into those shoes. Even if Laurence Fishburne is bummed he wasn’t asked to join the cast.

Our questions will be answered soon as The Matrix Resurrections will arrive in theaters and HBO Max on December 22nd. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

It’s been over 15 years since The Matrix Trilogy concluded, the story wrapped up in a pretty bow as a perfect present for fans of the sci-fi/action genre. Now the Wachowskis, the writing and directorial sisters behind the franchise, have untied that bow to add to the franchise with a 4th film. Lana Wachowski has now opened up as to why she decided to make The Matrix 4 now, even though they had said no so many times in the past.

Lana Wachowski, half of the duo behind sci-fi films The Matrix and Cloud Atlas, recently spoke at Berlin’s International Literature Festival about the Matrix franchise, saying that both she and sister Lilly considered the franchise all wrapped up and concluded just how they wanted. They had accomplished what they wanted with the film, and Wachowski compared the masterpiece of a franchise to a composition of music, saying:

Even though the Wachowskis were happy to leave their art alone and let their final result stand, apparently Warner Brothers had other plans. In the same appearance, Lana Wachowski explained that the production company practically begged the filmmakers for a 4th film for years, even bribing them with huge sums of money. However it was not the money that yielded the sisters, but tragedy and loss. Here’s what the writer/director said on why she finally came around for The Matrix Resurrections:

Losing one loved one is hard, and the Wachowskis lost 3 in a short period of time. Apparently the loss of both parents caused Lana Wachowski to look to two other beloved people in her life, Neo and Trinity from The Matrix franchise, and the need to resurrect them surfaced. Finally, the Sense8 director says she found comfort in the characters in such a tragic time:

The past year and half has been filled with loss for a lot of people, which makes the resurrection of two beloved characters mean even more to both the creators and diehard Matrix fans. The Matrix 4 brings back both Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, and, with its fitting new title, is set to release in just a few months on December 22nd - the perfect Christmas present for the sci-fi community.

The science fiction genre was changed forever with The Wachowski’s 1999 hit The Matrix. That cutting-edge property grew into a trilogy, one that influenced countless blockbusters since. The Matrix Resurrections will bring the property back to theaters, and director Lana Wachowski recently revealed Keanu Reeves’ reaction to the finished cut.

When The Matrix 4 was announced, fans were thrilled to learn that it would once again star the dynamic duo of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. Despite their characters’ deaths in Revolutions, the recently released trailer showed Neo and Trinity kicking ass and taking names. Lana Wachowski’s highly anticipated sequel is just a few months away, and she explained Reeves’ response after seeing The Matrix Resurrections. As she put it,

As if the public needed any more reason to adore Keanu Reeves. The 57 year-old actor is beloved thanks to both his acclaimed performances in projects like John Wick, as well as his sparkling personality. And Lana Wachowski’s latest story about The Matrix Resurrections certainly makes him seem like a delightful collaborator.

Lana Wachowski’s story about Keanu Reeves from the filmmaker’s recent appearance at the Berlin International Literature Festival will likely increase anticipation for The Matrix Resurrections. Not only is the project completed, but it’s been screened for the likes of Keanu Reeves. And Reeves seems to think that Wachowski managed to strike lightning twice. We’ll just have to see what larger messages she’s sending once the mysterious sequel hits theaters this December.

The first trailer for The Matrix Resurrections basically broke the internet. And while there was some thrilling footage, almost nothing about the movie’s plot has been revealed as of yet. As a reminder, you can check it out below.

As Keanu Reeves observed, the original Matrix trilogy was an allegory about our future dependency on technology. That certainly came true, so it should be interesting to see what prophetic story Lana Wachowski brings to The Matrix Resurrections. It’s clearly for Keanu Reeves’ approval.

The Matrix Resurrections will arrive in theaters on December 22nd. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

It's time to resurrect. Nearly 20 years after The Matrix Revolutions, the world of The Matrix returns with December's The Matrix Resurrections, which will see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity, respectively. Also starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jonathan Groff in undisclosed supporting roles, Lana Wachowski's new movie is shadowed in mystery, though we're learning more about this forthcoming film as we get closer to its winter release date. With that said, here's what we currently know about this fourth Matrix film.

The Matrix Resurrections Will Premiere In Theaters And HBO Max On December 22, 2021

Indeed, as the original movie once noted, The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Few movies have influenced the new millennium quite like that iconic sci-fi blockbuster, and yet, it's been a while since The Matrix has been with us. 18 years, in fact. But that will soon change. On December 22nd, 2021, we'll get The Matrix Resurrections playing simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, just in time for the holidays.

Keanu Reeves And Carrie-Anne Moss Will Once Again Play Neo And Trinity

For Matrix fans, it was surprising, exciting, and a bit confusing when it was announced that Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss would reprise their roles as Neo and Trinity in The Matrix Resurrections. Without getting into heavy spoilers, The Matrix Revolutions gave a pretty definitive final chapter to their collective stories, and there wasn't a lot of room for continuing their sagas. Nevertheless, they're back! And it's definitely going to be intriguing to see how they've been brought back into the fold for this brand new film.

The Matrix Resurrections Is Co-Written, Produced, And Directed By Lana Wachowski

Six years after 2015's audacious Jupiter Ascending leaped into theaters, The Matrix Resurrections marks the big-screen return of co-writer, producer, and director Lana Wachowski. That said, it should be noted that her regular collaborator, Lilly Wachowski, isn't attached to this upcoming sequel, as she has focused her attention away from the industry. Thus, The Matrix Resurrections will be the first Wachowski movie made by only one Wachowski. Lilly Wachowski hasn't directed since 2015, and Lana first started directing on her own with several Season 2 episodes of Netflix's beloved show, Sense8.

The Cast Includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jessica Henwick, And Christina Ricci

In addition to Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising two of their most famous characters, The Matrix Resurrections will introduce a number of familiar faces to this techno film franchise, including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman), Neil Patrick Harris (Gone Girl), Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (The White Tiger), Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones), and Christina Ricci (Speed Racer). Not much is known about any of their characters, but the CinemaCon footage suggests that Harris will play a therapist for Neo, while Abdul-Mateen II is rumored to be a new Morpheus-esque leader. We'll learn more about their respective characters in the months to come.

Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, And Daniel Bernhardt Will Also Reprise Their Roles From The Matrix Sequels

Along with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss picking up their black trench coats and sunglasses once more for The Matrix Resurrections, this new sequel will also feature the returning talents of Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt, who will also reprise their roles from the previous Matrix sequels. Specifically, Smith will once again be seen as Niobe, the captain and pilot of a rebellious Zion hovercraft, Wilson will play The Merovingian again, and Bernhardt is signed on as Agent Johnson.

The First Footage Teases An Eventful Reunion Between Neo and Trinity

We, the general public, are still waiting to get our first official glimpse of The Matrix Resurrections, but the lucky folks at this year's CinemaCon had the privilege of seeing the first footage from the intriguing new sequel. As detailed by our own Eric Eisenberg, this mysterious new sequel will feature Neo, who is seemingly no longer aware of The Matrix, recounting some bizarre dreams to his doctor. This is not the Neo we've once known, the leader of the battle to save humanity. And if it is, that man's triumphs are long recessed in his brain. That is, until he meets a woman once known as Trinity, and when they shake hands, there's an instant tingle of familiarity shared between them. From there, Neo must choose whether or not he wants to continue being blue-pilled.

That's an intriguing idea for a modern Matrix sequel — possibly one that's going to be divisive to fans, too. But we'll hopefully see this exciting footage for ourselves in a matter of time.

Laurence Fishburne Is Not Expected To Appear As Morpheus In The Matrix Resurrections

While The Matrix Resurrections serves as a big reunion between Lana Wachowski and several of her past collaborators, there's one actor in particular who sadly didn't get a callback — much to his (and our) disappointment. Specifically, if you were hoping to see Morpheus in this newest Matrix movie, you better prepare to be disappointed. Laurence Fishburne has been open about not being involved in the movie, having told New York Magazine (via The Wrap) that he was not invited. He has also said that several people have asked if he will return but noting he couldn't answer as to why that is. Perhaps this is a fib and we'll see him in a cameo, but it sounds like Fishburne is being sincere, which is a great shame. It also makes you wonder what this movie will be; what's a Matrix sequel without Morpheus? I guess we'll see soon enough.

Warner Bros. Spent A Lot Of Money To Shoot It In San Francisco… And Caused Some Damage, Too

While the previous three Matrix movies opted to shoot in Sydney, Australia, in order to capture a palpable but not very specific look of an American city, the filmmakers were located stateside this time around. Specifically, The Matrix Resurrections was shot in San Francisco, and it wasn't cheap either. Due to the various explosions and the heat from said explosions causing property damage, the movie received quite a hefty price tag before it was all said and done.

The Matrix Resurrection’s Production Was Delayed Due To COVID-19

Like many movies and shows throughout this troubled time, The Matrix Resurrections was subjected to several delays. Beginning production in early February 2020, filming was halted on March 16th, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production continued to be stopped until August 2020. From there, the film resumed filming through the fall.

Certainly, The Matrix Resurrections is a major movie with a lot of spinning wheels, and it must've been immensely difficult to make even during the best of circumstances — let alone during a major health crisis. But the filmmakers were eventually able to get it finished in time for this December's release date, with the delays only heightening the excitement.

The Production Received Help From The John Wick Directors

Things have come full circle for Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, the filmmakers best known for helming 2014's John Wick. Prior to their time in the director's chair, Stahelski and Leitch worked as stuntmen for these influential blockbusters. Now, they're using their influence to help shape The Matrix Resurrections. As Stahelski noted in an interview with Collider that they were involved with "the creative concept of some of the choreography and backing them up with stuff." Lana Wachowski directs her own action — with no second unit assistance — and her vision will be present throughout this film. But Leitch and Stahelski were happy to lend their assistance, helping this Matrix movie be the best version of itself it can be.

The Matrix Resurrections will screen in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22nd.

Last year the entertainment industry came to a screeching halt, with countless projects being delayed as a result. Lana Wachowski’s highly anticipated Matrix 4 movie was in the midst of explosive shooting when the set was shut down, but luckily principal photography managed to wrap months ago. And a wild new Matrix 4 rumor would mean big things for Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and the rest of the crew.

The contents of The Matrix 4 are a complete mystery at the time of writing, as absolutely no information about the plot has been revealed yet. The cast and crew have been helping to buoy excitement by praising its unknown contents, leading to countless theories and rumors about Lana Wachowski’s return to the sci-fi property. And the latest of these indicates there will be a time jump, and involve a new simulation.

This rumor comes to us from Movie Web, and is so far unconfirmed by the studio or anything involved in The Matrix 4. The report is that the movie will take place 60 years after the events of The Matrix Revolutions. While humankind was seemingly freed in that threequel, there will be a new simulation for Neo and his friends to battle against. And it seems that Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity is the one stuck in the fake reality this time around.

While taking this type of unconfirmed rumor with a grain of salt, the potential story is sure to turn heads for the generations of Matrix fans out there. We’ve never seen Trinity under the control of the simulation before, and it would be fun to see her and Neo’s roles reversed at the start of this new sequel.

But that’s not the only wild rumor to come from this latest Matrix 4 report. According to the same unnamed source, Laurence Fishburne won’t be back because Morpheus will have died before the events of the new sequel. Instead Jada Pinket Smith’s Niobe will apparently be in charge of the resistance.

This is a dizzying report, and the fandom will have to collectively wait for any official word from Lana Wachowski and company to see exactly what The Matrix 4 is about. Luckily since the blockbuster is set to arrive in theaters this Holiday Season, we should be getting some footage and concrete information soon, as the marketing stage of the release begins. Hopefully that includes more information about who the impressive ensemble cast will be playing.

As previously mentioned, a handful of returning faces from The Matrix are returning for the new sequel, including Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith. But the cast is largely made up of newcomers, including big names like Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Cristina Ricci, Jonathan Groff, and Priyanka Chopra.

The Matrix 4 is currently set to arrive in theaters on December 22nd. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

One of the most memorable parts of The Matrix series is its ensemble of characters. Neo, Trinity, Agent Smith and of course, Morpheus are as inextricably linked to the franchise’s popularity as its jaw-dropping action sequences and mind-melting storyline. So as you'd expect, fans are hoping to see as many familiar faces as possible when the fourth installment of The Matrix hits theaters -- and they’re not shy about asking the series’ stars, like the legendary Laurence Fishburne, if we can expect to see them again.

Unfortunately, if you’re awaiting the return of Morpheus, you are in for some disappointment. Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus won’t be making an appearance in Matrix 4. While he was already priming fans back in summer of 2020, he still seems to be open to discussing the film even if he isn’t in it. In a recent interview, though, when asked whether it gets old being asked if he’s in the next Matrix movie, he had a gracious response (via Collider):

It’s admittedly difficult to imagine a Matrix film that doesn’t feature Morpheus in some way, but that seems to be the reality we will have to get used to. It’s at least nice to know that Laurence Fishburne understands’ our enthusiasm for his character. While it’s unlikely that Lana Wachowski would actually answer our questions as to why Fishburne won’t be in Matrix 4, we can only assume that it will all make sense once we’ve seen the film.

While we don’t have too many details yet about what the storyline will entail, we do know that she will be introducing several new characters. The film is also bringing back some iconic Matrix players, including Keanu Reeves’ Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity.

This doesn’t have to mean we’ve said goodbye to Morpheus forever, either. There’s always a chance that more Matrix films will be greenlit and, if it fits the story, the beloved Zion operative could still make a comeback. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, we can still see him on screen with Keanu Reeves in another franchise. The actor has confirmed that he’s reprising his role as The Bowery King in John Wick: Chapter 4, which is slated to hit theaters in May 2022.

As for The Matrix 4, even though it feels like we’ve been waiting forever to see it, the premiere date is finally drawing closer. Whether it’s called The Matrix Resurrections or not, it is slated to hit theaters and HBO Max on December 22, 2021.

Given the power of nostalgia in the entertainment industry, seemingly any brand could return for a sequel or reboot. Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix 4 is one of these projects, with fans eager to jack back into the beloved science fiction franchise. Keanu Reeves will be returning alongside Carrie-Anne Moss and a few other familiar faces, but there’s one beloved character that seemingly won’t appear: Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus. And now the Emmy and Tony winning actor has offered an honest answer for fans questioning Morpheus’ possible return.

Not much is known about The Matrix 4, but Lana Wachowski assembled a killer cast of returning actors and newcomers. But while Neo and Trinity will somehow return thanks to Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, the holy Matrix trilogy won’t be completed with Morpheus. Laurence Fishburne was recently asked about his possible return to The Matrix, saying:

Well, there you have it. While some Matrix fans will hold out hope that Laurence Fishburne might appear sometime in the mysterious runtime of the fourth movie, the actor himself maintains he’s not involved. And when asked why Morpheus wasn’t included, he encouraged folks to ask Lana Wachowski herself about her creative process.

Laurence Fishburne’s comments come from a recent interview the 59 year-old had with ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton. While speaking about his new movie The Ice Road, eventually the conversation shifted to his role in The Matrix 4, or lack thereof. Unfortunately for fans of the beloved property, it seems like Fishburne truly isn’t going to show up in the mysterious new blockbuster.

It’s hard to imagine The Matrix without Laurence Fisburne’s signature character Morpheus along for the ride. And as Jake Hamilton pointed out in his interview with the legend, this is all the more curious since Morpheus actually survived the events of The Matrix Revolutions. Neo and Trinity both perished, yet they’re set to appear in the mysterious fourth movie.

Production on The Matrix 4 was underway when sets around the world were shut down due to the pandemic. Lana Wachowski’s mysterious vision included some wild car stunts and massive explosions while filming in San Francisco. Ultimately the set was moved abroad to complete the blockbuster in time for its intended release.

While Laurence Fisburne is seemingly not involved, there are a number of returning faces appearing in The Matrix 4. Aside from Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, the upcoming movie will also include Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt reprising their roles from the original Matrix trilogy. Lana Wachowski found some stellar actors to help flesh out the cast including Neil Patrick Harris, Hamilton’s Jonathan Groff, Cristina Ricci, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Priyanka Chopra. Plus a number of cast members from Sense8 will appear as well.

The Matrix 4 is currently set to arrive in theaters on December 22nd, so a trailer should be coming shortly. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

With each passing sequel in The Wachowski’s Matrix trilogy, cryptic words beginning with an r-word would mark a new chapter in the journey for Keanu Reeves’ Neo. As the Reloaded world gave way to Revolutions that drew the saga to a supposed close, audiences have wondered what The Matrix 4’s full title would do to fit or break that potential mold. And should this latest rumor be proven true, The Matrix Resurrections just might be the title to Lana Wachowski’s third sequel in the series she co-created. Holy Keanu, kids.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard the title The Matrix Resurrections floated around, as it was previously put into the world through a social media post from someone who worked on the film. However, if a random fan reaction on Twitter is to be believed, not only is this the official title for The Matrix 4, but the proof of its existence came from a test screening held recently by Warner Bros. And the first alleged reaction to both the title, and the film, is really promising for a sequel over a decade in the making.

Comparing the film to Cloud Atlas, Twitter user David Manning claiming that The Matrix Resurrections is the official title has gone on record as stating that this new installment will be quite divisive. Perhaps the greatest bit of praise happens to be the claim that those who love the movie will be quite enthusiastic about that fact. At the very least, it sounds like The Matrix 4 will spark just the same reaction as its two predecessors, which is pretty consistent.

Of course, this Matrix 4 rumor needs to be taken with more than a grain of salt. For starters, it’s pretty easy to claim that the new title would be something that’s already gathered steam through previous reports. Not to mention, if Matrix 4 star Jessica Henwick hasn’t seen a cut of the film, there’s a good chance that public test screenings haven’t started just yet.

But let’s say that The Matrix Resurrections happens to be the proper title. Should that be the case, it could be the first clue of how the pretty dead Neo and Trinity are returning to the Matrix fold. Not to mention, it could leave the door open for other characters from the original trilogy to return, whether it’s in this film or potential future installments.

With all of the reports indicating that The Matrix 4 underwent a rather intense and costly shoot to wind up in the can, there’s no doubt that Warner Bros is going to need the right title to sell the finished product. The Matrix Resurrections sounds like it could be the horse that wins the race, but we’ll just have to wait for official confirmation from the studio before really getting excited. So don’t be surprised if this name changes, or stays the same, when the first trailer lands in anticipation of The Matrix 4’s December 22 release date.

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The Matrix 4 is finally releasing this December after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth Matrix film reportedly spent a ton of money shooting in San Francisco, and Neo himself, Keanu Reeves, can’t stop praising the sequel’s script. The movie will see Reeves reunite with director Lana Wachowski for the first time since The Matrix: Revolutions and, now, the highly anticipated film has added another big name to the cast, which marks yet another reunion for director Lana Wachowski.

The Matrix 4 has quietly added Christina Ricci to its’s already stacked cast, according to Collider. The trade reportedly discovered the casting through an updated press kit sent by Warner Bros. Details of her character are unknown, but Ricci’s addition is a welcome one and only adds to the anticipation for the upcoming film.

The Matrix 4 will mark a new collaboration between Christina Ricci and Lana Wachowski, as the two previously worked on Speed Racer, an underrated movie that has gained a cult-like status since its release in 2008. Christina Ricci s known for starring in the Addams Family films, Sleepy Hollow, and many more films. Because news of Ricci joining the cast was kept under wraps, it will be interesting to see what her role is and how significant it will be.

Christiana Ricci joins a Matrix 4 cast that is already packed with big names and talented performers, including Keanu Reeves reprising the role of Neo, Carrie Ann Moss, who is returning as Trinity, Jada Pinkett Smith, who returns as Niobe, and franchise newcomers Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra. It will be exciting to see the roles of the new characters and where the old guard stand after the events of The Matrix: Revolutions.

Not much is known about The Matrix 4, not even the movie’s official title, but it is undoubtedly one of the year’s most anticipated movies. One known detail is that Laurence Fishburne will not be returning as Morpheus in The Matrix 4. With this, the reunion will be missing one of its biggest stars from the first three films, but it will still be cool to see the rest of the original characters in action again.

One former Matrix star has seemingly taken issue with the new film bringing Neo back to life, but that is about the only concern you can find from those involved with the franchise outside of Morpheous not returning. New Matrix star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has spoken about the two things he has learned from Keanu Reeves and Lana Wachowski. Meanwhile, Neil Patrick Harris has remarked on how the giant blockbuster still felt very intimate. Hopefully, these comments from the new stars are indicate that The Matrix 4 is something special.

To put it plainly, The Matrix 4 can’t get here soon enough. Between the new players like Christina Ricci entering the game and the original characters like Neo and Trinity returning, there is a lot to get excited about and, with any luck, we'll get that first trailer soon.

The Matrix 4 hits theaters and HBO Max on December 22.

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The power of nostalgia in the film industry has become clear over the past few years. And as a result, plenty of beloved properties have returned to theaters. Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix 4 is one of those projects, and fans can’t wait to jack back in with Keanu Reeves and company. And it turns out that production spent an outstanding amount of money to shoot in San Francisco.

The Matrix 4 was in the midst of filming San Francisco when sets around the world were shut down. Set videos teased off some wild stunts, although it cost Lana Wachowski and company a pretty penny to shoot those sequences. Namely a whopping $420,371.

For those of us suffering from financial whiplash thanks to The Matrix 4, let’s break that sum down. This report comes to us from SF Gate, which investigated how much major blockbusters paid the San Francisco Police Department so they could successfully film. This includes other major projects like Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Marvel’s upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. But the fourth Matrix movie reportedly takes the cake by far.

In fact, the money coughed up by Warner Bros. or The Matrix 4 to film in San Francisco cost more than the aforementioned blockbusters combined. According to the report, Shang-Chi cost Marvel $162,775, while Venom 2 paid $192,422 to the city of San Francisco. The Matrix 4 leaves those other projects in the dust, but now the question is: why?

The Matrix trilogy (so far) is currently streaming on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Over $400k is a ton of money to spend on merely the locations of certain sequences of The Matrix 4. The blockbuster isn’t expected to be entirely set in San Francisco, with extensive production happening overseas. But perhaps this sum of money was due to the wild stunts Lana Wachowski and company were attempting. There were explosions, wire work, and car chases happening. As such, they needed to pay for the appropriate safety measures.

This isn’t the first time that Lana Wachowski has filmed a major project in San Francisco, and it’s clear that the filmmaker has a connection to the city. SF was one of the major locations of her Netflix series Sense8, and there were some thrilling chase sequences throughout the two seasons and finale movie. What’s more, a number of actors from Sense8 will be appearing in The Matrix 4.

Virtually nothing is known about the story of The Matrix 4, but filming was able to complete overseas after a long delay. Lana Wachowski assembled a killer cast for the movie, including a handful of returning faces like Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. But since both of their character seemingly died in the last movie, fans have questions.

The Matrix 4 is currently expected to arrive in theaters December 22nd. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

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One of the most memorable pieces of dialogue in the entire history of The Matrix comes from Lawrence Fishburne’s Morpheus, who warns Neo (Keanu Reeves) that, “Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.” It sounds like that advice still holds up 20 years after it was first dispensed, especially when reading what actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II took from his experience working with Reeves and co-writer/director Lana Wachowski on The Matrix 4. While he didn’t use that exact quote to describe his experience, those words map so well with the reality he described in a recent interview.

The actor, who’s currently making the rounds for the awards hopeful Trial of the Chicago 7, made a pretty exciting statement about the latest Matrix sequel that’s slated to debut by the end of the year. And keep in mind, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is also the same person that previously hyped us up with his reaction to The Matrix 4’s script. So much as he said there were things fans knew, but also didn’t know they wanted in the film’s story, Mateen sold that rabbit hole a little deeper with his recent sentiments to Variety:

Morpheus’s iconic advice is practically covered in two different chunks by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s words pertaining to The Matrix 4. And with something as cryptic as Keanu Reeves and Lana Wachowski being the two only people to understand The Matrix, there’s bound to be a bit of a learning curve when it comes to properly understanding that enigmatic universe. Which means the supposedly intimate and productive atmosphere that Wachowski encouraged on her set really did the trick.

Which brings us to the second part of Morpheus’s advice: showing those in The Matrix the bonkers reality that they’re a part of. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II got to see that adage in practice on the set of The Matrix 4 as well, and it was tied into what he’d learned when he realized Keanu Reeves and Lana Wachowski are the two stewards of this franchise that truly get it. Mateen revealed that second lesson with this sentiment:

Testing the waters is exactly what The Matrix 4 sounds like it’s doing, based on the limited remarks that have been given. With a supposed visual refresh and a compelling story that’s bringing back characters we saw die in the original Matrix trilogy, there’s a lot of questions surrounding where this wild world is going next. Like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and everyone else on The Matrix 4’s ship of action and philosophy, we’ll just have to see it for ourselves to truly understand what’s going on.

At present, December 22nd is the set release date for The Matrix 4, so you have plenty of time to revisit the original three films, The Animatrix, and decide whether or not you want to sign up for an HBO Max subscription to watch the movie. All very important steps that must be taken when welcoming yourself back to the world of The Matrix, especially if this new revolution is about to leave audiences reloaded with big, head scratching questions.

Nostalgia has proven a powerful force in the entertainment world, as countless beloved properties have returned for reboots, remakes or long-awaited sequels. This trend has extended to the iconic Matrix franchise, as creator Lana Wachowski is jacking back into the beloved sci-fi property with The Matrix 4. The movie has wrapped production overseas and the cast/crew had a rager to celebrate, with Keanu Reeves bringing his girlfriend Alexandra Grant along for the party.

Following a delay in filming as sets around the set were shut down, Lana Wachowski and The Matrix 4's cast and crew resumed production in Berlin. Keanu Reeves has obviously been hard at work playing his signature character Neo, and his girlfriend Alexandra Grant has been abroad with him during this grueling filming process. And with principal photography recently wrapped, the couple enjoyed a wild party for the cast and crew.

This news comes to us from Page Six, and reveals that Lana Wachowski and company reportedly had a massive party to celebrate the wrapping of The Matrix 4's filming. While large gatherings are still forbidden in Germany as they are in the States, the report indicates that Wachowski and company were able to have their celebration for the cast and crew through a loophole. Namely, by acting as if they were actually filming a party scene, rather than just enjoying a night together.

As a result, a whopping 200 cast and crew member for The Matrix 4 (plus Keanu Reeves' girlfriend) were able to enjoy a rager of a wrap party for the highly anticipated science fiction blockbuster. This reportedly included a DJ and dance floor, as well as a pyrotechnics and dance performance. And with food and booze being slung, it seems like a great time for all of those involved.

Of course, health precautions were taken prior to the party starting. Rapid COVID tests were given to the attendees, something that the cast and crew of The Matrix 4 has no doubt grown accustomed to during their time filming during the pandemic. Still, it seems that the German powers that be are investigating said party. We'll just have to see if the studio gets in any hot water for this extracurricular event celebrating the wrapping of principal photography.

Filming for The Matrix 4 began in the spring in the states, with Lana Wachowski starting principal photography in San Francisco. Videos of this work revealed some wild stunts for Keanu Reeves and company, as well as massive explosions. But when sets around the world were shut down, the movie was ultimately delayed in order to complete the project.

Anticipation for The Matrix 4 has been steadily building since the project was first announced. Lana Wachowski assembled a stellar cast to bring the mysterious story to life, including a mixture of new and returning faces. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will once again lead the project as Neo and Trinity respectively, despite their characters' apparent death in The Matrix Revolutions. We'll just have to wait and see exactly how this story plays out when the fourth movie arrives in theaters.

The Matrix 4 is currently set to arrive in theaters on December 22nd, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movie next year.

As far as science fiction franchises goes, The Matrix is a modern classic. The Wachowskis broke new ground with their trilogy of blockbusters, pushing the boundaries of cinematography and visual effects. Fans of the franchise will be able to jack back in with The Matrix 4, which will feature a mixture of new and returning faces. Jessica Henwick is one of said newcomers, and recently explained why the upcoming sequel will "change the industry."

Jessica Henwick might be making her Matrix debut with Lana Wachowski's upcoming fourth movie, but she's no stranger to genre work. Fans will know her from notable roles in Game of Thrones and Netflix's Iron Fist, as well as a bit character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She recently spoke to the experience of working on The Matrix 4, and teased more groundbreaking moments for the franchise. In her words,

Is anyone else ready to take the red pill again? It sounds like Lana Wachowski has more bold visuals in store for The Matrix 4, and will once again be pushing the boundaries of what the genre is capable of. This is exactly what moviegoers went to the original movies to see, and there's no telling how current technology will aid in making this vision into a reality.

Jessica Henwick's comments to Comic Book are sure to make the wait for The Matrix 4 all the more excruciating. Anticipation was at a fever pitch when filming began in February. But due to the break in filming amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the project's release was ultimately pushed back to December of 2021. But all of the comments made by the cast and crew indicate have praised Lana Wachowski's plans for the science fiction property.

The Matrix movies are known for their thrilling action sequences, which used cutting edge cinematography to give unprecedented perspective of the fights. John Wick director Chad Stahelski returned to his roots to help make The Matrix 4 happen, and he's personally teased how "insane" the vision for action is in the upcoming movie.

Jessica Henwick is one of the many new faces joining The Matrix 4, with Lana Wachowski assembling a killer cast to bring the story to life. As previously mentioned, Henwick is proven herself in action heavy roles like Colleen in the Netlix Marvel show Iron Fist and The Defenders, as well as playing Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones. She's joined by recent Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (HBO's Watchmen, Aquaman), Neil Patrick Harris, Hamilton's Jonathan Groff, and Priyanka Chopra.

The plot of The Matrix 4 remains a mystery for the time being, and moviegoers are eager to see how it connects to the original trilogy. But with Neo and Trinity returning despite their apparent deaths in The Matrix Revolutions, there's no telling exactly how the franchise's timeline will continue. We'll just have to wait and see what tidbits of information come from the movie's set next.

The Matrix 4 is currently set to arrive in theaters on December 22nd, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies next year.

Nostalgia has proven a popular force in the film industry, with plenty of iconic franchises returning to theaters with reboots or long-awaited sequels. One of the most highly anticipated projects of this ilk is Lana Wachowski's The Matrix 4. Moviegoers are hyped to jack back into the iconic sci-fi franchise, especially with actors like Keanu Reeves returning to reprise their roles. And it turns out that another actor from the original Matrix trilogy will be making an appearance in the blockbuster.

Lana Wachowski has assembled a strong cast to make The Matrix 4 a reality, featuring a mixture of new and returning faces. While we already knew that a handful of OG actors are returning, there's been another surprising addition. Namely actor/stunt performer Daniel Bernhardt will return as The Matrix Reloaded's Agent Johnson.

This news comes to us from Deadline, and is sure to excite the hardcore Matrix fans out there who are eager to see what Lana Wachowski has in store for the upcoming sequel. The movie was given a ton of advanced credit for its inclusion of original cast members, although there are some notable absences. Daniel Bernhardt's Agent Johnson made a serious impression in The Matrix Reloaded, and it'll be interesting to see how he factors into this new mysterious story.

Having Agent Johnson return to the franchise with The Matrix 4 makes a great deal of sense, as he was a character added to the very first sequel The Matrix Reloaded. He was one of the elite agents tasked with killing Neo, Morpheus, and The Keymaker. While not as meaty of a character as Hugo Weaving's Agent Smith, actor Daniel Bernhardt did a ton of thrilling action sequences throughout the course of the movie's 138-minute runtime.

Unfortunately, Hugo Weaving is one of the original Matrix actors who isn't expected to reprise his role as Agent Smith in The Matrix 4. The Lord of the Rings actor recently shared that his role was cut during negotiations, which was surprise news considering he was the primary antagonist of the Matrix trilogy. This news is even more puzzling now that we know Agents will indeed factor into the upcoming sequel's story. Laurence Fishburne is also not expected to play Morpheus, another shocking twist for fans.

As a reminder, you can check out some of Agent Johnson in The Matrix Reloaded below.

With Daniel Bernhardt back as Agent Johnson, Lana Wachowski now has five returning actors reprising their roles in The Matrix 4. The movie was originally announced with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss confirmed to play Neo and Trinity respectively-- despite their characters' apparent deaths in The Matrix Revolutions. The mysterious sequel will also feature Jada Pinkett Smith and Lambert Wilson as Niobe and The Merovingian.

The story of The Matrix 4 is being kept under wraps, but anticipation has been steadily building. The sequel was in the midst of filming with wild stunts and explosions when sets around the world were shut down in the spring. But production has since resumed in Berlin, now with new health and safety precautions. Keanu Reeves has been sharing vague teases for the movie, especially praising Lana Wachowski's script.

The Matrix 4 is currently expected to hit theaters on April 1st, 2022. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

The Matrix franchise is an iconic pice of film history, known for breaking new ground in terms of cinematography and effects. Fans were thrilled to hear that Lana Wachowski would be back in the director's seat for The Matrix 4, which would feature the return of actors Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Unfortunately Hugo Weaving won't be appearing as the villainous Agent Smith, and now we know exactly how that came to be.

Hugo Weaving's Agent Smith was the primary antagonist of the Matrix trilogy, battling Keanu Reeves' Neo countless times in the process. And while a handful of actors will be reprising their roles for the mysterious fourth movie, both he and Laurence Fishburne won't be following suit. Weaving recently spoke to this turn of events, revealing how close he was to joining Matrix 4. As he put it,

What a bummer. It looks like Matrix fans might be feeling some FOMO when the upcoming fourth movie arrives in theaters. Because while Hugo Weaving was in negotiations to return as Agent Smith, those eventually fell through. And it looks like the issue might be a scheduling one, especially after filming for The Matrix 4 was delayed months amid global health concerns.

Hugo Weaving's comments to ComingSoon peels back the curtain on what it's really like to negotiate in the film world. While the public gets to enjoy a finished product, there's a ton of moving pieces that must fit together in order to make each release happen. This is especially true with massive franchises like The Matrix, which has film sets spread across various cities and countries.

As Hugo Weaving explained, his absence from The Matrix 4 may largely be a scheduling issue. Because while he wanted to film over the summer, the proposed film schedule actually called for the actor in February until May. And while at this point the movie's original plans for production were thrown out the window, Weaving's character ultimately fell by the wayside for the movie's story.

The Matrix 4's contents and plot are currently a complete mystery, so there's no telling when Lana Wachowski will bring for her return to the beloved science fiction franchise. She's assembled a killer cast to bring the story to life, including newcomers Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Priyanka Chopra, Jonathan Groff, and Jessica Henwick.

The Matrix 4 is currently expected to arrive in theaters (sans Hugo Weaving) on April 1t, 2022. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies next year.

Last summer, it was announced that The Matrix 4 was in the works, although unlike with the previous movies, Lana Wachowski would be the sole director of this franchise revival, as opposed to helming alongside her sister, Lilly. Nevertheless, it sounds like Lana Wachowski has a grand vision for The Matrix 4 that won't skimp on the insanity.

John Wick directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, both of whom worked on the original Matrix trilogy as stunt performers, have been helping out Lana Wachowski with The Matrix 4 on a conceptual level. Here’s what Stahelski recently had to say about what Wachowski has in store:

As is the case with most blockbuster productions, particularly ones based off existing franchise or intellectual property, plot details concerning The Matrix 4 are being kept a tightly-guarded secret. Aside from the return of some familiar faces from the earlier movies, we have no idea of what to expect yet from this return to the digital realm that took the late ‘90s and early 2000s by storm, although some rumored (and still unverified) story details surfaced last December.

In any case, Chad Stahelski sounds confident that Lana Wachoswki intends to deliver a spectacle that’ll rival, if not exceed what what shown in the previous Matrix movies. With a sci-fi franchise like this, more crazy elements are certainly welcome. Stahelski also mentioned during his interview with THR that Wachowski is one of the most challenging people he’s ever worked with (in a good way), and that if you love the Matrix trilogy, then you’ll love what she’s cooked up for The Matrix 4 “because she’s brilliant and fun and understands what the fans want.”

The Matrix 4 will see the return of Keanu Reeves’ Neo, Carrie Anne-Moss’ Trinity, Jada Pinkett Smith’s Niobe and Lambert Wilson’s Merovingian. As for newcomers, The Matrix 4 cast includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra, Jonathan Groff, Toby Onwumere, Max Riemelt, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Brian J. Smith, and Ellen Hollman.

The movie kicked off principal photography at the beginning of February in San Francisco, but filming paused in the middle of March. The plan is to start rolling cameras again in July. Lana Wachoswki co-wrote The Matrix 4’s script with Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell.

The Matrix 4 is still set to come out on May 21, 2021, but if it ends up being pushed back, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. Learn what movies have been delayed over the last several months with our detailed guide.

It's been over 20 years since The Matrix arrived in theaters, and changed the world of the film. The movie was a massive success, with The Wachowskis helping to develop a new visual language that would be used for years to come. The original two sequels helped to form a bonafide trilogy, but Lana Wachowski is working on a fourth movie, bringing back original stars like Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. But another original Matrix star has been campaigning to join the new movie: Joe Pantoliano.

Bad Boys For Life actor Joe Pantoliano played the villainous Cypher in the first Matrix movie. His character betrayed his human compatriots and killed a bunch of crew members before being put out of his misery. While his death seemed concrete, Neo and Trinity also perished in The Matrix Revolutions, yet they're still returning for the fourth movie. Pantoliano recently appeared on our very own ReelBlend podcast, and when asked if he had an interest in playing Cypher in The Matrix 4 he said:

Well, that was honest. Not only is Joe Pantoliano interested in joining Matrix 4, he's already contacted director Lana Wachowski about it. Unfortunately, he hasn't heard anything yet. But perhaps the movie's halt in filming will be in his favor?

As Joe Pantoliano explained, he has tried to reach out for Lana Wachowski about playing Cypher again. It's unclear if she never got them or simply wasn't interested in bringing back that character, because the actor apparently never got a response. Still, I'm going to cross my fingers that he appears to join the other returning players

Joe Pantoliano's comments on ReelBlend are sure to elicit a mixture of emotions from Matrix fans out there. Obviously the hardcore fandom would love to see Cypher pop up in the fourth movie, despite his death in the first movie. The actor's interest in returning is an exciting concept, although it doesn't look like there are any plans for Pantoliano to appear in the mysterious fourth Matrix movie.

The Matrix 4 was in the middle of filming when the set was shut down over global health concerns. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Lambert Wilson are all reprising their roles from the Matrix franchise, joining an impressive cast of newcomers. The story is currently a mystery, but it should be interesting to see if any other familiar faces end up appearing during the highly anticipated sequel's runtime.

The Matrix 4 is currently expected to arrive in theaters on May 21, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies once theaters reopen.

Hold up and slow the bullets. Because a new development in the hugely underwraps Matrix 4 has come our way. The upcoming sci-fi sequel written and to be directed by Lana Wachowski and starring Keanu Reeves will reportedly have two Neos. One played by the John Wick actor, and a younger version currently being cast. A younger Morpheus also has a role in Matrix 4 too. Ready to see double?

Justin Kroll, the Variety reporter who originally broke the Martix 4 news recently said this on My Mom’s Basement podcast. Check out his words:

Whoa. Now, this just adds to the intrigue for Matrix 4. Ok, but first question: how does one find a young Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne? Sounds like an especially tough task. They are both completely unique talents. And how young are we talking? 20-years-ago versions would need to closely match their iconic selves from the 1999 classic Matrix film. Could it be child versions? Considering each of their fates, maybe they are “reborn” somehow. So. Many. Questions.

This is interesting information to learn in an age where de-aging tech is starting to really pick up in Hollywood films. In the upcoming Gemini Man, Will Smith co-stars with a younger version of himself created with groundbreaking CGI technology. Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman will see legendary actors such as Robert De Niro being de-aged across various stages of mobster Frank Sheeran’s lifetime.

But Lana Wachowski is going “old school” by seeking fresh talent. It has potential. Just look at the individual but cohesive performances the young and grown-up Loser’s Club pulled off in the IT movies. It sounds like the writer/director is on a time constraint, taking on the casting process head on ahead of filming the project in early 2020. We can look forward to casting news in coming months!

At this point, there’s little known about the plot details for Matrix 4. One half of the creatives behind the original films is back and so is Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Ross’ Neo and Trinity. No word yet if Laurence Fishburne will be joining as Morpheus following a reunion with Reeves’ in the John Wick series.

Reeves has described the Matrix 4 script as “very ambitious”. But how so? One would expect the sequel to explore big ideas of existentialism and cutting-edge action sequences as the 1999 classic famously tackled. News of younger Neo and Morpheus is tough to gauge without context. But it’s enough to keep fans curious.

No release date for Matrix 4 has been set, but the production is expected to begin February 2020.

For being such a massive series of films, the reign of The Matrix was rather short lived, with all three movies coming out between the years 1999 and 2003. Of course, in Hollywood no franchise is ever really dead, and now it appears that this one once again has a pulse. Word has now gotten out that The Matrix 4 is officially in development, and the project already has three key names attached.

With Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow prepared to team up, Variety is reporting that Lana Wachowski is now set to both write and direct a fourth installment of the Matrix series, and both Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne Moss will be returning to play Neo and Trinity, respectively. At this time there are no details available regarding the plot of the film (no real surprise there), but what is kind of incredible is the fact that production is looking to start in the early months of 2020.

What also presently remains unclear is how the developing project will handle Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne in the original trilogy. The actor does not currently have a deal signed to be involved with the project, and the trade report says that there is a possibility that the narrative will involve a younger version of the character, which would mean recasting. It's worth noting that while The Matrix movies have been hibernating, Fishburne and Keanu Reeves have continued to work together, collaborating on the two most recent chapters of the John Wick franchise (John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum).

This year, of course, marks the 20th anniversary of the original Matrix, which now is looked back upon as having a mixed legacy. The first film wound up being a surprise phenomenon when it came out in March 1999, going on to make over $460 million at the global box office. It had a massive impact on culture, including not only science-fiction storytelling, but even fashion, and also made massive changes in the way that action movies are filmed.

Where the "mixed" part comes in is because of the first two sequels: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. The follow-ups were tremendously ambitious, filmed together and then both released in the same calendar year, but neither film was nearly as well regarded as their game-changing predecessor. Both features will insanely successful, making $742.1 million and $427.3 million, respectively, worldwide, but that steep decline in profits from one chapter to the next definitely quieted buzz about the future of the brand.

Now the series has a chance to change its own narrative, though, as a successful and beloved Matrix 4 could do a lot to wash the bad taste of the previous sequels out of our mouths. We'll just have to wait and see how it comes together, and in the meantime you can be sure that you'll be able to find all updates about the project here on CinemaBlend as new information comes to light.

Warning: massive spoilers ahead for the series finale of Sense8.

If there's one show that has had an interesting life on Netflix, it's Sense8. The Wachowskis' queer, sci-fi romp is has a rabid fanbase, and has been praised for its inclusive cast, and for filming across multiple countries. Netflix ultimately cancelled the series after Season 2, despite the massive cliffhanger and upcoming conflict with BPO. Ultimately the fans rallied and bothered the streaming service enough for Sense8 to be given a finale movie, which arrived today. And that fandom should be very pleased, as the finale is unapologetic, proving how Lana Wachowski truly didn't not give a crap about any of the show's criticism. Instead, she made an authentic, epic movie lasting over 2 and a half hours long.

From the jump, it's clear that Sense8 was throwing out the rule book and speeding up what would have taken at least another season to complete. Seven of the cluster are together in an attempt to rescue Wolfgang, and the supporting cast and various romantic interests have also joined the fight. All of Sense8's cast gets to join the fun this time around, although the most surprising additions are certainly Lito's friend Daniela and Kala's husband Rajan. Having the full cast assembled is what we've been waiting for for years, and seeing all the sensates and their loved ones unite was pretty epic.

Sense8's finale is ultimately going to be everything the fans have been expecting, as Lana Wachowski didn't stray from the show's tone and vision. Instead, she somehow managed to cram in a full season of action into the movie, which is pretty impressive. While the first half is focused on the journey to rescue Wolfgang from BPO, the second half shows the cast trying to end Whispers and his allies for good.

But because the Sense8 finale is so true to the series, it's also as flawed as the original show was. There are a handful of big concepts introduced that don't really pay off, including adding yet another layer to the mythology of the sensates. Another villain is also introduced with BPO's masked Chairman, although his plot fizzles ala Snoke in The Last Jedi.

The flip side of this is when the Sense8 finale is good, it's very good. The show's signature cinematography is fascinating, as the group has full control over their abilities. There are plenty of beautiful montages to enjoy, and all of the characters' respective plot points are wrapped up in one pretty bow. In fact, the entire battle against BPO ends in the most Sense8 way possible: through Wolfgang's Bazooka.

The use of a bazooka as a macguffin definitely surprised and baffled me during Sense8's original run. So seeing Wolfgang once again whip one out and use it willy nilly will certainly remind you exactly what show you're watching. The Wachowskis' trademarked over the top action with The Matrix franchise, and it's this sci-fi penchant for explosion that helps make Sense8 the genre defying series it is.

I also spent much of my time watching the Sense8 finale wondering when the next giant psychic orgy was going to happen. The show is known for its use of nudity and sex scenes, with the sensates able to feel each other's pleasure. Fear not, because a giant sex montage is exactly how Sense8 ends. After beating the bad guys and making amends, each couple separates to make whoopie. But since they're psychically linked, it becomes one of those crazy orgies. It's a final sequence that is bizarrely genuine, considering the show's history. In fact, the final shot of the entire series is of Nomi's rainbow strap-on-- the very one used in her first scene with Amanita in Episode 1. As the movie fades out, text reads "for the fans".

Say what you want about Sense8, but Lana Wichowski knows exactly what she's doing with the queer sci-fi epic. It was likely her unwillingness to change the show's tone (and its budget) that resulted in its cancellation from Netflix. Luckily the fans helped a finale get green lit, and the writer/director was able to finish the story exactly how she wanted. And all for the fans.

Sense8's two seasons and finale are currently up on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our Amazon premiere list and superhero premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.

Netflix was a big part of breaking the mold when it comes to resurrecting other networks' cancelled shows, as it did with Arrested Development and Longmire, among others. Now, in a tide-turning move, it looks like one of the streaming giant's cancelled Originals has the left field potential to get resurrected, with the popular porn website xHamster laying out an offer to Sense8 co-creator Lana Wachowski saying the company is willing to completely fund Season 3 of the interconnecting sci-fi drama. What the what?

Netflix brought the axe down on Sense8 back in June, with the viewership not high enough to justify the globe-spanning series' budget, and it resulted in a user backlash that likely wasn't expected by Netflix's execs. Taking all of that into account, Netflix agreed to a conclusion special to close things out properly, and it seemed like that would mark the end of the Sense8 conversation, at least as far as its future was concerned. But just a few days ago, Lana Wachowski revealed that because the fans have been so gracious, she's moving forward in writing Season 3, regardless of Netflix's probably lack of interest in ordering it. Which is where xHamster comes in. (Pun acknowledged.)

Via an open letter to Lana and Lilly Wachowski, xHamster's team made an impassioned plea that the website is a more than suitable home for Sense8 Season 3, and the proposal is clear about not wanting to make a parody series or anything less than the season that the creators have in mind. The in-site fandom and legitimate dedication to making such a project work is apparent, and admittedly, xHamster's two biggest selling points -- money and open-mindedness -- are exactly what a show like Sense8 needs. Here's an excerpt from the letter.

Further, xHamster went into the many ways it has used its influence to take a stance in issues tethered to the characters in Sense8, such as speaking out against regressive LGBTQ law policies and other forms of negative treatment for non-traditional sexualities. Many might not automatically consider a porn site the most fitting home for a general TV show of any kind, the puzzle pieces do seem to match up well here. And it also begs the question: "Why aren't more revenue-oozing adult sites getting into original series on a regular basis?"

No release date has been set just yet for Netflix's official Sense8 conclusion, but it will arrive at some point in 2018. Hopefully more will come from this most recent update, with xHamster's request one of the more interesting scenarios to hit the world of Cancelled TV Shows. While waiting for more news, check out our 2017 Netflix schedule for your streaming needs, and then hit up our summer TV schedule and our fall premiere schedule for everything else hitting TV soon.

In order to prepare for his role as Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl, Eddie Redmayne was rather rigorous with his research. Not only did he read every book on her that he could get his hands on, but he also visited individuals who had gone through sexual reassignment surgery themselves. But while filming Jupiter Ascending he was able to talk with director Lana Wachowski, who had not only undergone the operation herself but who also knew a great deal about Lili Elbe.

When I sat down with Eddie Redmayne at the end of October to talk about his research and performance in The Danish Girl, he admitted that he talked extensively with Lana Wachowski, who was born and formerly known as Laurence Wachowski until she completed her transition from a man to a woman in 2008, during the production of the sci-fi blockbuster.

And the direction that Lana Wachowski pointed Eddie Redmayne in clearly helped the actor to work wonders, because his performance in The Danish Girl miraculously eclipses his Oscar-winning work in The Theory Of Everything.

Rather than reluctantly being restrained by a debilitating illness and then having to try and communicate and act with tiny moments and glances, Redmayne has to portray a smorgasbord of emotions as Einer Wegender comes to terms with the fact that he wants to transition into a woman. Somehow, he doesn’t miss a beat in showcasing each and every one of these feelings, even when he has to emote several of them at once.

You can check out part of my discussion with the wonderfully cordial and engaging Eddie Redmayne below. He really is one charming bugger.

Some cruel individuals might make the comment that Lana Wachowski’s advice to Eddie Redmayne regarding his performance in The Danish Girl was the only positive thing to come out of Jupiter Ascending. The film proved to be a rather big flop for Warner Bros. OK, its failure might have been eclipsed by the woeful performances of Pan and Fantastic Four, but the sci-fi space opera only grossed $183.9 million from a $176 million budget. Plus, it was also rather savaged by critics too. Personally I found Jupiter Ascending to be flippant, camp fun, which didn’t take itself too seriously and had plenty of enthralling action set-pieces to pass as a worthwhile entertaining ride. But that's just me.

Eddie Redmayne will be hoping that The Danish Girl is received much more favorably by audiences when it is finally released on November 27.

Playing a transgender character must certainly be one of the greater challenges for an actor. After all, it's an experience to which few of us can entirely relate, while also something that should be portrayed authentically in a performance. Eddie Redmayne faced these very issues after signing on to star in Tom Hooper's new drama The Danish Girl, but fortunately the Academy Award-winning actor had a great resource in his corner in the form of Lana Wachowski - who helped steer Redmayne into some key research areas.

In promotion of the upcoming Oscar-hopeful film, Eddie Redmayne recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for an extensive interview, and it was during the course of their conversation that they began to talk about Lana Wachowki's influence. The line of questioning began because the trade noticed that the Matrix co-director was given a "Thank You" credit at the end of The Danish Girl, and Redmayne explained that she pointed him in the direction of some key books that would help him better understand his character. Said the British star,

Of course, Eddie Redmayne didn't just bump into Lana Wachowski on the street and ask her for advice. The actor and director first had the chance to collaborate on the sci-fi action-adventure Jupiter Ascending - which had Redmayne featured as the central villain. It's not hard to imagine that the two stayed in touch after production on the movie, and clearly that meant good things for The Danish Girl. Based on the novel of the same name by David Ebershoff, and adapted by Lucinda Coxon, The Danish Girl is inspired by the lives of artists Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne) and Gerda Wedener (Alicia Vikander), and the story follows their relationship as Lili becomes a pioneer for transgender people everywhere. The film has played to critical acclaim at both the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, and will make its way to theaters here in the United States on November 27th.

Even though it was only a few months ago that Eddie Redmayne took home an Academy Award for his performance in The Theory of Everything, it's predicted that he will very much be in contention once again in this year's Best Actor race. We'll surely be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months - as we get deeper and deeper into Oscar season - so stay tuned not only for updates about the competition as well as our review of The Danish Girl.

With a directorial career that began with steamy lesbian crimes and is currently taking an elf-eared Channing Tatum to space, Andy and Lana Wachowski are two of the most ambitious filmmakers out there. Regardless of how one feels about the stories they tell, it’s undeniable that they are masters of visual media. And so only the slightest bit of bewilderment accompanies the siblings’ claim that they captured live births for their upcoming Netflix series Sense8. Doesn’t get much more visually distinct than that.

No surprise, Sense8 is a sci-fi-leaning series, one that uses death as a springboard for its story of connection, and I guess there’s no better narrative contrast for that than filming a loins-parting baby coming into the world. Here’s how they dropped that nugget – bad choice of words, perhaps – to io9 while discussing the amount of creative freedom they asked for and received from Netflix.

Yes, but are there live births? This comes right after Lana tossed out the idea of “psychic orgies with all sorts of different bodies.” Sense8 follows eight strangers who all go through a terrible experience involving the death of a loved one, and then find that their emotional and mental states are suddenly all connected, despite everyone living in different parts of the world. That explains the psychic orgies. That doesn’t explain why this is a Netflix series and not some Discovery special.

I’m going to guess that they’re talking about a variety of animal (non-human or Keanu Reeves) giving birth, as opposed to seeing women in delivery rooms sharing such intimate and important experiences with Netflix subscribers. Not that watching horses or camels having babies is anything to sneeze at. And maybe I’m wrong. The fact that it’s plural is what throws me.

The siblings also shared how they basically spent a year filming the series in nine different locations – from San Francisco to Mumbai to Reykjavik – and had amazing experiences in each place they went. (Their presence in Nairobi drew some stares.) Maybe they’ll feature someone giving birth in every city. It’s all connected!

For Sense8, the Wachowskis teamed up with Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski for co-writing and co-producing duties. Add to that Netflix’s penchant for quality original programming, and this could easily be the sci-fi masterpiece of the decade. Or it could be a gorgeously ridiculous piece of mythology-infused claptrap. I’m hoping for the former, as everyone involved has done their part in creating classic sci-fi.

While Jupiter Ascending is hitting theaters this weekend, the Wachowskis are filling their days editing the ten episodes of Sense8, which will apparently hit Netflix in May. Will you be watching from anywhere in the world?

At long last, we now have some key details about the Wachowskis' planned Netflix series Sense8, including some interesting tidbits about the plot, and the ensemble cast, which will include Daryl Hannah and Lost's Naveen Andrews, along with eight actors whose roles will be tied very closely together, though the characters are spread out across the globe.

Deadline spoke with J. Michael Straczynski, who's executive producing Sense8 alongside Andy and Lana Wachowski, and he offered up some interesting details about the plot of the series, which is expected to air on Netflix sometime next year. Here's how Straczynski describes Sense8:

Sense8's plot sounds like the perfect concept to play out in a binge-watched series, where viewers can set their own pace, especially if it builds up a lot of suspense and takes its time introducing us to each of the eight connected characters.

So who are the sense-eight characters whose minds are connected? If Deadline's intel is accurate, none of them will be played by Naveen Andrews or Daryl Hannah. The same applies to Freema Agyeman, Alfonso Herrera, Erendira Ibarra and Terrence Mann, who are all among the cast, though no specifics about their roles were mentioned. Perhaps some or all of them will be among those trying to hunt down the titular "8." Speaking of whom, those roles go to Brian J. Smith, Tuppence Middleton, Aml Ameen, Tena Desae, Doona Bae, Max Riemelt, Jamie Clayton and Miguel Silvestre.

When they say international cast, they really mean it. These four male and four female actors come from all over the globe. Let's break the eight down two by (random) two...

Tuppence Middleton, Miguel Silvestre...

Tuppence Middleton is a U.K. actress with ties to the Wachowskis already, courtesy of a role in their upcoming feature film Jupiter Ascending. She's also appeared in the 2013 film Trance and The Love Punch, and has a role in Morten Tyldum's upcoming film The Imitation Game, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.

Meanwhile, Miguel Angel Silvestre hails from Spain, so most (if not all) of his credits are Spanish movies and TV shows, including Spanish TV series Velvet, as well as films Dark Impulse, All is Silence and Scorpian in Love.

Tena Desae, Max Reimelt...

Indian actress Teena Desae got her start in Bollywood with Yeh Faasley, and then in 2011 she took the role of Sunaina in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. She's on board to reprise that role in the sequel.

Max Riemelt is from Germany, and thusly has mostly German credits, including an appearance in a TV show called The Last Cop, and films Forgotten, The Fourth State, Before the Fall and The Wave.

Jamie Clayton, Aml Ameen...

Though Jamie Clayton is an America actor, her credits are limited to a handful of roles, most of which are on the small screen. She was in two episodes of Hung in Season 3, and she co-hosted VH1's makeover series TRANSform Me. She also appeared in Are We There Yet? for one episode.

British actor Aml Ameen has a substantial list of credits, which includes roles in Harry's Law, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Red Tails and coming up, the role of Alby in the feature adaptation of The Maze Runner.

Doona Bae, Brian J. Smith...

Like Middleton, Doona Bae also has ties to the Wachowskis not only with a part in Jupiter Ascending, but also Cloud Atlas. Bae hails from South Korea and her credits include the 2006 horror film The Host and Korean TV shows God of Study and Gloria.

Finally, there's American actor Brian J. Smith, who's had appearances in Defiance, Blue Bloods and Person of Interest. He also played Max Harding on Gossip Girl and Lt. Matthew Scott on Stargate Universe.

Andy and Lana Wachowski, while not universally beloved, are undoubtedly two of the most interesting and confident filmmakers in Hollywood. Who else could have possibly followed up the ludicrous eye candy of 2008’s Speed Racer with a highly cerebral adaptation of the once-thought unfilmable David Mitchell novel Cloud Atlas? Their next effort, the science fiction space opera Jupiter Ascending, is less of a departure for the duo, but the trailer above makes me think this might actually be the most accessible film of their high-concept careers. And that’s saying something, considering it stars an oddly-bearded Channing Tatum in eyeliner and elf ears playing an alien military man whose genetic make-up was combined with a wolf.

You can always count on a Wachowski movie to feature visual splendor that works just as well when the volume is muted, and they’ve created an entire universe for Jupiter Ascending that will allow viewers to travel from one dazzling planet to the next in spaceships that were apparently built by people who really loved Transformers. I hope the figurative world-building is as strong as the literal world-building on CGI display here, because this has a good chance of being the next great sci-fi epic that this year’s Elysium and that one with Tom Cruise failed to become.

The story is mostly centered on Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), a lowly Russian immigrant whose average earthbound life belies an extraordinary destiny she never could have imagined. Everything changes for her once Caine (Tatum) arrives, pointy ears in tow, alerting her to Earth’s low status on the totem pole of intelligent life. He tells her she’s being hunted by minions of the Queen of the Universe, who has conspired to kill Jupiter for being the only other being in existence sharing the same perfect genetic code.

It isn’t the simplest of tales, nor is it the most original, but there are bound to be themes and ideas that didn’t make it to this first trailer, as the directors hinted at by saying this film will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. We’ve watched buff and tough men save helpless women before, so I’m hoping the focus on Caine’s character is a little deeper than just showing how heroic he can be, with some thought going into the Queen’s motivations. Still, just from what we can see in the trailer, I’m impressed enough to stay intrigued.

The film also stars Sean Bean as something of a mentor to Caine – and I think we can all assume he will die a most honorable death before the three-quarter mark, and James D’Arcy as an android with a funky voice. You can also expect to see Douglas Booth, Eddie Redmayne, and Terry Gilliam in a bit role. At this point, it’s only going head-to-head with Brett Ratner’s Hercules epic when it hits theaters on July 25, 2014.

Are you guys as blown away as I was by the look of Jupiter Ascending? Let us know in the poll below.

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When it comes to the films of Andy and Lana Wachowski, it's virtually impossible to guess what they might come up with next. In 1999 they unleashed their groundbreaking vision for the future of science-fiction film with the smash hitThe Matrix. In 2012, they transformed David Mitchell's dense novel Cloud Atlas into an ambitious and vivid film despite the recurring refrain from naysayers that the book was "unfilmable." As follow-up to this incredible undertaking, the Wachowskis are working on Jupiter Ascending, which Lana has recently described to MSN as "a science-fiction space opera."

Having recently wrapped the production that stars Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, the Wachowski siblings have moved into postproduction on Jupiter Ascending. The American filmmakers stepped away from overseeing its edit and visual effects for a night to attend an Australians in Film awards dinner. The two are notoriously press shy, but they did drop some details about the their latest project. For one thing, Andy notes that Jupiter Ascending's production went much smoother than the multi-faceted Cloud Atlas, which notably had its cast playing multiple characters within the film. However, he confesses the visual effects for Jupiter Ascending are "way more complicated."

"We seem not to be very good at making small things," Lana said. "We keep saying 'Let's go make a small movie.' But then they always end up being enormously complex. We want to somehow always find something that is different or that no one has tried."

This drive has served their reputation well among fans, even when it doesn't necessarily pay off at the box office. For instance, Cloud Atlas has been estimated to cost upwards of $102 million to make, and earned only $130 million worldwide, making it a total flop at the box office. Its predecessor Speed Racer did even worse, making $93 million worldwide off a $120 million budget. Yet Lana seems to shrug off these losses, instead focusing on the appreciation they've received from those who do love these unusual features. "People come up to us and just break into tears talking about (Cloud Atlas)," Lana told reporters. "Even Speed Racer, we get people that come up and say it was their favorite movie of all time. We've been very lucky that way. We have great fans. ... And we keep trying to keep surprising them."

As for what surprises the Wachowski siblings have in store for Jupiter Ascending, Lana played it coy, saying:

Written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski, Jupiter Ascending centers on an impoverished maid named Jupiter Jones (Kunis). As a human, she is considered near the bottom of the universe's international ladder, and yet the Queen of the Universe sees her as such a threat that she sends a genetically engineered bounty hunter (Tatum) to track Jupiter down, and kill her. Douglas Booth, Sean Bean, Terry Gilliam, Eddie Redmayne, James D'Arcy, and Doona Bae will co-star.

Jupiter Ascending is expected to hit theaters on July 25th, 2014.

The Wachowski Siblings, Lana and Andy, have never managed to quite match the financial success they found with the Matrix trilogy-- though given how huge those movies were, you couldn't have blamed them for taking the money and running right then and there. Even when audiences haven't flocked, though, the two continue to collaborate on some of the most fascinating and iconoclastic big-budget movies out there, from the candy-colored chaos of Speed Racer to the earnest, genre-shuffling Cloud Atlas, a $100 million production that made just $121 million worldwide.

But because the Matrix name still means a whole lot to studios, the Wachowskis are moving full speed ahead on their next giant project, Jupiter Ascending, a futuristic drama set in a future world where humans have become the lowest species on the intergalactic totem pole. With Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum on board to star and an easy-to-embrace premise (unlike poor Cloud Atlas), Jupiter Ascending has a ton of potential, and Warner Bros. has now shown a huge sign of faith in it. According to an update at Box Office Mojo, Jupiter Ascending has set a July 25, 2014 release date, putting it right in the thick of the hugely competitive summer movie season.

Not only that, but the late-July berth is a typically huge one for Warner Bros., which has debuted The Dark Knight Rises (July 20), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (July 15), The Dark Knight (July 18) and Inception (July 16) all around the same time. Of course, Jupiter won't be the only huge movie fighting for that spot-- Fox is premiering X-Men: Days of Future Past on July 18 next year, and the Wachowskis film will be opening directly against the Dwayne Johnson-starring Hercules.

We've been closely following developments on Jupiter Ascending for months now, from http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Crazy-Details-Emerge-About-Wachowskis-Jupiter-Ascending-31184.html>digging up some intriguing plot details to celebrating the fact that composer Michael Giacchino is on board. Summer 2014 is admittedly earlier than we expected to see a movie this big, but Warner Bros. clearly has confidence, and the Wachowskis have never lacked it.

Though it managed to eventually make an impressive $107 million worldwide, Cloud Atlas was a sad entry in the box office of 2012, an expensive and beautiful passion project that divided critics and was roundly rejected by American audiences. Even the poor movie's Blu-ray release has been pushed back all the way to May, and fans of the film will be gritting their teeth at Sunday's Oscars watching films with less beautiful scores and cinematography take home prizes.

But despite the financial failure of Cloud Atlas the Wachowskis are moving on style, putting together what might be an even more ambitious sci-fi project, Jupiter Ascendng. With Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Les Miserables star Eddie Redmayne and Sean Bean attached in the cast, they've got the star power to get attention, and now Deadline writes that they've secured some extra money to make it happen. Australia's VIllage Roadshow will be teaming with Warner Bros. to finance the film, in which Kunis plays a low-ranking human who is targeted for assassination by the alien queen of the universe. Yeah, that sounds like the kind of story that could use a little extra money to happen.

It's a relief to see the Wachowskis still pushing forward on yet another ambitious and massive movie, and I hope that the lukewarm reception to Cloud Atlas doesn't dampen the heartfelt and fiercely independent streak they've fostered since well before their Matrix breakthrough. Whether or not Cloud Atlas worked for you it's hard to deny their passion and singular voices (well, as singular as two separate humans can be). And if more of you actually go to see Jupiter Ascending than Cloud Atlas, we can hopefully count on more from them in years to come.

Forget Benedict Cumberbatch. Tuppence Middleton is our new favorite British name.

The English ingénue who made her screen debut in 2008 on the TV crime drama Bones has been snagging roles in UK features.These flicks—that include includes the horror comedy Tormented, the teen thriller Chatroom, and the Sean Bean vehicle Cleanskin—have gained little notice Stateside. But with her lasting casting coup, she's destined to draw international notice in short order.

Variety reports Middleton has signed on to Jupiter Ascending, Andy and Lana Wachowski's follow-up to their ambitious adaptation of Cloud Atlas. The 25-year-old actress who recently wrapped on a small role in Danny Boyle's upcoming Trance joins a cast that includes Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth and her former co-star Sean Bean.

Written, produced and directed by the Wachowski Siblings, Jupiter Ascending is a science fiction adventure set in a universe where humans are considered to be at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder. Kunis is set to star as a human maid whose life is in danger once she's deemed a threat to the Queen of the Universe. Tatum will be an extraterrestrial bounty hunter tasked with her demise, and Bean will play a "Han Solo-type." No details have emerged on whom Redmayne, Booth, and Middleton will play.

Later this year, Middleton is expected to hit theaters in the Emma Thompson/Pierce Brosnan comedy Love Punch as well as the adaptation of Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down, opposite Rosamund Pike, Aaron Paul and Toni Collette. However, with the international reputation of the Wachowskis, and Warner Bros. distributing, Jupiter Ascending could prove the tipping point for this lovely looking starlet.

Production on Jupiter Ascending will begin this spring. The film is expected to hit theaters in 2014.

Now that Ben Affleck has confirmed he's not actually planning to direct a Justice League movie, we're free to keep wondering who Warner Bros. will turn to-- and it turns out, the answer may be right under our noses and theirs. The latest rumor says Andy and Lana Wachowski, who made the massive Cloud Atlas along with Tom Tykwer for Warner Bros., are being considered for the job, though as part of a wish list that may be miles and miles long.

With Cloud Atlas coming to theaters in October, and a debut at the Toronto Film Festival in just a few weeks, Warner Bros. is reportedly happy with the project, and seem to think the Wachowskis are ready for a return to franchise filmmaking for the first time since The Matrix. According to Moviehole, there's no telling whether or not the Wachowskis would actually want the job-- after all, The Matrix might already be there best superhero movie they can make-- and again, they're merely a pair of names that's currently on a wish list. But the duo clearly has the skill to handle large-scale action in addition to character, and the many narratives of Cloud Atlas likely show a great skill with ensemble casts, something that will be crucial for juggling the many big-name characters of a Justice League movie.

If the Wachowskis do indeed get the job, it will be a great sign for the quality of Cloud Atlas, and probably a good omen for Justice League as well. Yes, they've had their share of flops, and none of the Matrix movies lived up to the potential of the original, but the siblings are also daring and high skilled filmmakers, who might do well within the constraints of a pre-established superhero story. We'll keep an eye on this rumor and see if it amounts to anything; in the meantime, let us know in the comments what you think of this potential choice.

The Wachowskis' and Tom Tykwer's adaptation of Cloud Atlas may be the most ambitious film we see this year, and now it's confirmed to have the running time to prove it. Thompson On Hollywood reports that the adaptation of David Mitchell's novel screened for buyers at Cannes, and the run time of the finished film was two hours and 44 minutes-- over the two and a half hours specified in the contract, but studio head Jeff Robinov approved it anyway.

And though the film is screening for international buyers at Cannes, it's already got a North American release date from Warners-- you can expect to see it in theaters on December 6, a release date than unbelievably has no other wide releases scheduled (Focus's Hyde Park on Hudson, scheduled for December 7, is likely to have a limited release). Cloud Atlas was financed through advance foreign sales, shot for $101 million after Warner Bros. refused its $170 million price tag. In a pretty canny move, WB then bought the film's North American rights for about $20 million, saving themselves a heavy investment but positioning themselves to reap serious rewards.

Cloud Atlas, published in 2004, follows six stories that take places in various times in history, starting with an American notary on a ship traveling from the Pacific ISlands to San Francisco in the 19th century and ending far in the future, where modern society has collapsed and Hawaii is one of the last bastions of humanity. The stories each interrupt each other but also link up in mysterious and lovely ways, creating a wide-ranging portrait of time and humanity and all the odd ways we connect to each other. It's a lot more interesting and less sappy than that sounds, I promise.

With Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw, Keith David and Jim Broadbent all on board in major roles, Cloud Atlas surely has the starpower to get noticed-- the next question is whether the Wachowskis and Tykwer have pulled it off. Everyone at Cannes seems to be staying mum for now, so we may have to wait all the way until December 6 to find out for sure.

Directing duo Andy and Lana Wachowski have just completed production on their much buzzed-about ensemble mystery Cloud Atlas, and already they've begun the casting process for their next feature, Jupiter Ascending. According to Deadline, Warner Brothers has approached Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis to lead the film, a sci-fi epic that's story is being closely guarded at this stage.

But while we sadly know no plot details, we can extrapolate that Tatum, with two of 2012's noteworthy box offices successes (The Vow and 21 Jump Street) under his belt, will be pulling down a major check from WB should he sign on. He's proven his bankability with audiences and his charisma to critics, so he'd be a major get for Jupiter. As for Kunis, it'd be fascinating to see the talented actress, who has displayed her talents in dramas and comedies alike, tackle a genre picture. Plus, the pairing of these incredibly beautiful people is sure to prove explosive onscreen.

Curiously, Deadline mentions in passing how last spring the Wachowski siblings went in search of financiers to fund a hard R-rated drama about the complicated relationship between a gay U.S. soldier and an Iraqi. The pair had hoped to helm the piece, but have made no progress finding funding, probably because of the script's taboo subject matter. Is it possible that these intrepid filmmakers are returning to the kind of sweeping sci-fi that made them famous with The Matrix in hopes of ultimately directing a drama far afield from their established forte and far too controversial for a studio to back? I do wonder.

The last time a director approached Natalie Portman about starring in a science-fiction epic, it didn't turn out so well. I am, of course, referring to what happened with Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity back in 2010. After hopes of landing Angelina Jolie for the lead role in the project were destroyed, the filmmaker went after the the future Oscar winner, only to be denied. While no reason was given at the time, it was revealed a short while later that Portman was pregnant with her first child, and it became clear that she turned down the part for that reason. But now the small child has been removed from the actress, so will the Wachowskis have more luck?

The Los Angeles Times has learned that Andy and Lana Wachowski are keen on hiring Portman to play the lead in their upcoming project, Jupiter Ascending. Should she become involved, it would be the first movie she has done since announcing her pregnancy. Little is known about the plot of the film, which is set up at Warner Bros. and won't start production until after the siblings have finished editing their next, Cloud Atlas (which is due out later this year). Portman and the Wachowskis do have a history, as the actress previously starred in V For Vendetta, which the filmmakers produced.

I will admit for a while there I did get a bit burnt out on Natalie Portman. In the first six months of 2011 she was in No Strings Attached, The Other Woman, Hesher, Your Highness and Thor. While that was quite an overload, she actually doesn't have any movies coming out this year and, as mentioned above, she doesn't yet have anything either in pre-production or currently shooting. Knowing the public's short attention span, when she does come back it may not be a case of "Natalie Portman again?" but rather "Where the hell has she been?"

When you consider who the director was, Ridley Scott's Robin Hood should have been a lot better than it was. Instead, what audiences received was a fairly humdrum affair. There hasn't been a good Robin Hood flick since Robin Hood: Men In Tights in 1993 and that was a parody. We are long overdue for a good one and now the Wachowskis are taking a crack at it. THR reports that the Matrix siblings will tackle the myth next with Hood, a "modern, urban" take on the classic story. Set to write and direct, the pair has already begun reaching out to actors to play the lead with Will Smith's name being whispered. Joel Silver, who worked with the Wachowskis on The Matrix films and Speed Racer, will produce. The brother and sister are currently working on their film Cobalt Neutral 9, though the project has been slowed by financing issues.

While I like this idea, I can't say that I love it. The "modern, urban" thing has been done to death, but if ts the medium that the directors require to tell the story right than I'm not going to complain. Two requests, though: keep the pace active and don't include any songs from Bryan Adams on the soundtrack.