The Matrix Resurrections star Jessica Henwick pulls back the curtain on director Lana Wachowski’s techniques, which involves some impressive 20-minute takes. Eighteen years after Neo (Keanu Reeves) sacrificed himself to end the war between machines and humans, the iconic Matrix franchise returns with a new installment guaranteed to make fans’ heads spin. The Matrix Resurrections was originally slated for release earlier this year, but production delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic pushed it back to December. Rolling out just before Christmas, The Matrix Resurrections will be available both in theaters and on HBO Max.
The fourth Matrix movie, this time helmed only by Lana as opposed to both Wachaowski sisters, has been very careful about what it reveals in terms of plot and characters. Reeves is back as Neo, though as the Matrix Resurrections trailer and synopsis confirmed, he’s somehow been transported back into the Matrix without his memories. The same is true for Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). How they got trapped and how they’ll break out remains to be seen, but they will be aided by a familiar face: Morpheus, this time played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II instead of Laurence Fishburne.
In terms of newcomers, The Matrix Resurrections has many. One of them is Jessica Henwick, who plays blue-haired Bugs. In a recent interview with Collider, Henwick opened up about her experience on the Matrix 4 set. Wachowski has been labelled a visionary director by many, and Henwick’s time with her seems to prove that is an accurate descriptor. Henwick explained Wachowski’s unique way of shooting scenes, which often involves complete 360 coverage and lengthy takes. She said:
She’s very creative and she has a very, very strong vision. She doesn’t work like any of the directors I’ve worked with. She loves running takes, so we’ll often go 20 minutes without a single cut. And she doesn’t do the normal thing, which is, “Okay, let’s set up for shooting A side, and we’ll shoot the wide, the medium, the closeup, and then we can all move the lights, so that we can shoot B side.” Everyone had to be aware that it was 360, at all times. She would stand next to the operator and she would be shooting. Keanu is speaking and she’s shooting. She’s handling the camera, zooming in on him, and then she would just turn, and suddenly the camera will be on you, even though you’re on the other side of the line. That’s how she shoots. It’s very much how she feels, in the moment. It’s very instinctive for her. It’s fascinating to watch. I’ve never worked with a director who is going so much on a gut feeling.
The Matrix is far from Henwick’s first major franchise appearance, having appeared in projects like Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Therefore, the fact that she speaks so highly of how Wachowski chose to film The Matrix Resurrections says a lot about the director’s unique style. Henwick’s fellow franchise newcomer Neil Patrick Harris previously said The Matrix 4‘s production didn’t feel like a blockbuster, and that all comes down to how Wachowski approached the sci-fi adventure.
Henwick’s recollection of the set suggests The Matrix Resurrections will be a visually stunning movie, and hopefully the story can match the impressiveness of what the audience is seeing. There’s been some slight apprehension from fans over the plot, seeing as it so far looks to be largely acting as a reset on the entire trilogy. With so much of The Matrix Resurrections remaining a mystery, that could prove to be an incorrect assumption. Audiences will be able to find out for themselves next month.
Key Release Dates
The Matrix Resurrections
Release Date:2021-12-22
