The Return of The Matrix: Worth The Wait.
Monica Pagano
Marketing Executive
From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes ‘The Matrix Resurrections’, the long-awaited fourth film in the ground-breaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.
Jada Pinkett-Smith also reprises her role, and is this time joined by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Christina Ricci.
The title for the long-awaited sequel was first unveiled at CinemaCon last month, before the creative teaser site was launched, prompting audiences to choose their own teaser trailer experience via the iconic red or blue pill.
The trailer opens with Keanu Reeves character, Neo, asking this therapist, played by Neil Patrick Harris, “Am I crazy?” to which the therapist responds, “We don’t use that word in here.” Neo is living in a futuristic San Francisco, reuniting with Trinity in a cafe. In usual Matrix fashion, the trailer ascends into a chaotic twisting, martial arts-like sequence, propelling the audience into an understanding that Neo has been bought back into the Matrix, carried by a blue pill dependency. Littered with references to Alice in Wonderland, as we head back down the rabbit hole.
The Matrix, released in 1999, is culturally hailed as one of the most influential films of all time. Beyond an innovative use of special effects which ignited a new era of sci-fi action cinematography, the film forged deep-seated philosophical exploration into mainstream pop culture and continues to be at the root of modern existential conversation some twenty-two years later.
Its cultural impact continues to be imprinted across on-screen tributes – both homage and parody – appearing in the likes of The Office, Shrek, Kung Fu Pandy, Broad City, Scary Movie, Community, and even Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
While Lana Wachowski returns to direct The Matrix Resurrections, Lana’s sister and original trilogy co-director, Lilly Wachowski has stepped away from the franchise, explaining that their career paths have diverged.
The Matrix Resurrections is in cinemas on January 1, 2022.