The Matrix’s New Movie Is Breaking The 1 Big Sequel Rule Warner Bros Had Before Resurrections

Warner Bros. has announced a new film in The Matrix franchise, breaking a critical sequel rule the company established in 2021. The original 1999 classic is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, originating from the minds of the Wachowski sisters. The pair went on to co-write and co-direct two immediate sequels, both of which were released in 2003, without reaching the same acclaim as the original. In 2021, the franchise was brought back with a sequel aptly named The Matrix Resurrections, becoming even more divisive than previous installments.

The four Matrix movies vary in quality, and with such a shaky franchise comes a significant risk in continuing to expand it. Yet, an article from THR announced that Warner Bros. has finally confirmed The Matrix 5, with intriguing information surrounding its production. First off, the article makes no confirmations regarding Keanu Reeves or Carrie-Anne Moss’s roles in the sequel and announces that Drew Goddard will be the movie’s writer/director. Goddard has previously worked on sci-fi projects like The Martian, Lost, and Cloverfield.

Warner Bros. Suggested The Matrix 5 Would Only Happen With Lana Wachowski

A 2021 Interview Established That The Future Of The Matrix Was In Lana Wachowski’s Hands

Leading up to 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections, the franchise’s future was brought into question. The Matrix is one of the few famous franchises to be handled by only one creative vision: Lana Wachowski’s. Though she worked with her sister on the original trilogy, she directed the fourth film individually. Despite the rocky sequel reviews, Lana Wachowski is still coveted for her visionary work on one of the most innovative and well-regarded movie franchises ever, and WarnerMedia CEO Ann Sarnoff suggested in 2021 that the company would trust Wachowski’s sole vision going forward.

The decision to move forward without Wachowski as writer/director is surprising but also makes a lot of sense. David Zaslav has been the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery since 2021, and Sarnoff has since stepped down from her role. Zaslav has keenly expressed his views on utilizing Warner Bros.’s esteemed franchises, such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the DC Comics universe, to their full effect. The production of The Matrix 5 without Lana Wachowski’s directing is consistent with his idea to maximize the company’s major titles, even if it means going forward with divisive perceptions from fans.

Lana Wachowski Is Only An Executive Producer On The Matrix 5

Lana Wachowski Is Set To Produce, But That Could Mean Any Number Of Things

As of now, Lana Wachowski has been announced as an Executive Producer on The Matrix 5. That title may sound promising, but it can mean many things. It’s often the case that big Hollywood names are attached to projects as producers despite having nothing to do with the creative process. Having recognizable names helps move things forward in an otherwise overwhelming labyrinth of behind-the-scenes film production. For example, Eva Longoria is oddly attached to John Wick as a producer, but she has nothing to do with the project.

Lana Wachowski’s name being attached to The Matrix 5 could bear some similarity to Stan Lee’s name on Marvel Projects. Stan Lee wasn’t part of the production of MCU films, but he has credit as a Producer as he created the source material for many of the characters. Alternatively, Lana Wachowski could still be heavily involved in The Matrix 5, helping advance the project as Ridley Scott did with Blade Runner 2049, or she could be attached by name and have absolutely nothing to do with the creative process.

Why The Matrix 5 Without The Wachowskis Is Such A Massive Risk

Moving Forward Without The Franchise Creators Risks Damaging The Existing Movies’ Legacy

On a broad note, the idea of creative faithfulness is pertinent to audience encouragement leading up to a new franchise installment, especially when so many beloved films have seen harrowing reboots. There have been instances of movie franchises being saved by new directors, but they’re few and far between. The Matrix is regarded as a monumental piece of sci-fi art that happened to find significant financial success. If the franchise continues to release movies without ever reaching that gold standard, they all become clumped together as a big mess.

Hollywood should take risks in developing fresh movie ideas, but it becomes more complicated when dealing with other artists’ work. The Wachowski sisters created The Matrix, and progressing without them, for what could be perceived as a money grab, can be challenging to sell dedicated fans on. A new film in The Matrix franchise could turn out great, but without the right names involved, Warner Bros. will have to work out some impressive marketing to get viewers interested.

Sources: THR