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:
Now I think within the next week or two we’ll have Young Morpheus and Young Neo news coming up. Because I know Lana’s meeting with people quite aggressively because they want to shoot that in February.
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.
