Matrix 4 star Jessica Henwick worried that the film would be canceled when the set was shut down because of coronavirus. Production on the film was shut down in March when the pandemic hit. It was only four weeks into production in Berlin. The movie resumed production in August but was still delayed nearly a year to April 20222 to make up for the lost time.
The film is set to bring back one half of the original directing team, with Lana Wachowski set to direct, produce and co-write the screenplay. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith are all set to reprise their original roles. An exciting new list of actors will be joining them, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra, and Jonathan Groff all joining the franchise.
Another newcomer to the Matrix, actress Jessica Henwick, has already made her excitement for the film known. However, she recently revealed her worry that production would never start up again after being shut down. Speaking to WWD, Henwick revealed that she was unsure at the time if the film would ever be completed:
I think when it’s still happening it’s hard to discuss. But it’s been pretty insane. It’s a whirlwind, but I’m very grateful to be working in these circumstances and so grateful that we were able to come back to the film, because it was a big fear that when the lockdown happened that we might just stop altogether. So, yeah, I feel very lucky right now.
Henwick's fears are valid. The coronavirus left the movie industry in turmoil, and, at its onset, many were unsure when productions would resume filming. However, a lot is riding on the sequel for Warner Bros. If reports are accurate, the special effects budget alone is probably astronomical, as are the fees to bring back the original actors and hire the new ones. Reeves has experienced a career resurgence in the last few years, while Abdul-Mateen II is experiencing the beginnings of a formidable one. With a lot at stake monetarily, Warner Bros. would not have shut down production entirely on such an expensive film.
Fans, too, would have had a field day if Warner Bros. had canceled the film. Anticipation for the film is high, as it gives Wachowski a chance to right some of the original trilogy's perceived wrongs and because the Matrix franchise is known for its game-changing, boundary-pushing nature when it comes to action films. Luckily, filming concluded without any problems, even if the wrap party flouted pandemic restrictions. Meaning The Matrix 4 is still on track to hit theaters in 2022.
Source: WWD