The Matrix Resurrections was an interesting meta-experiment from Lana Wachowski, but the Matrix name wasn’t enough to keep it from flopping. Still, despite the financial disappointment of the fourth Matrix movie, Warner Bros. hasn’t given up on the property, as we’re reportedly getting yet another film in the iconic action franchise. The fifth Matrix movie still doesn’t have a working title, but at the helm of the movie is Drew Goddard, who will write and direct the film.
A Fifth Matrix Movie is in the Works
This report comes from The Hollywood Reporter, also revealing that creators Lana and Lily Wachowski will have no direct involvement in the film (although Lana Wachowski will receive an executive producer credit.) “A new idea that we all believe would be an incredible way to continue the Matrix world.” said Warner Bros. Motion Pictures President of Production Jesse Ehrman. “The entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery is thrilled for Drew to be making his new Matrix film, adding his vision to the cinematic canon the Wachowskis spent a quarter of a century building here at the studio.”
Goddard only has a couple of directorial features under his belt, with the cult-horror favorite The Cabin in the Woods as well as the underappreciated Bad Times at the El Royale. He also has writer credits on genre films Cloverfield, World War Z, and The Martian. This resume doesn’t exactly scream Matrix, though, so right now, my reading of the news is cautiously optimistic.
The Matrix Resurrections was the last film in the Matrix franchise, helmed by director Lana Wachowski. The film faced numerous box office challenges, most notably the coronavirus pandemic and the immediate move to streaming, which resulted in a disappointing box office run of $159 million against a budget of $190 million. Warner Bros. is still excited to expand the Matrix universe, however. And honestly, I would expect a more traditional sci-fi film versus what we got in Resurrections, which was almost certainly more experimental and different.
