Keanu Reeves is officially set to return to The Matrix: Chapter 4. Also, along with the original cast member Carrie Ann-Moss, Lana Wachowski, who created the franchise with his sister Lilly, will also return as a director.
Lana Wachowski said in a statement that many of the ideas him and his sister Lilly explored 20 years ago about the reality are even more relevant now. He continued by saying that he is very happy to have these characters back in his life and is grateful for another chance to work with his brilliant friends.
Together with sci-fi novelists Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell, Wachowski co-wrote the script.
This year marks the original Matrix’s twentieth anniversary, which tells the story of hacker Neo and his discovery that the world was actually a simulated reality. It was a surprise hit with more than $460M worldwide and later two sequels were launched, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. The franchise combined has produced more than $1.6 billion.
Since 2017, rumors of a new film have circulated, with Michael B Jordan then touted as a lead. Lilly Wachowski gave her blessings to any new iteration earlier this year.
“I like it when stories go out into the world and then come back to you in different ways,” she said. “I mean, that’s what storytelling is all about. I’m part of a bigger thing. I don’t have any ownership over stuff like that, so whatever story anybody wants to tell, I can’t wait to hear. I hope it’s better than the original.”
The Wachowskis have had a number of commercial disappointments since the original trilogy, including Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas, and Jupiter Ascending. After two seasons, their Netflix show Sense8 was cancelled.
Reeves scored a global hit this summer with John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum making over $320M worldwide. He’ll be seen next in a long-awaited sequel to Bill & Ted. Sources said that the latest Matrix film will start production in 2020.
