The rumors surrounding Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s role as a young Morpheus in the untitled Matrix 4 are reportedly true. The announcement of a fourth film in The Matrix franchise came as a surprise to many, as first they learned Warner Bros. was considering a reboot of The Matrix but then word came original series creator Lana Wachowski was returning to write and direct a sequel, one which will see franchise veterans Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith reprising their roles alongside newcomers Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Toby Onwumere, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Next to nothing is known about who the new cast members will be playing, or the film’s story for that matter, however, when it was revealed in October that Abdul-Mateen would be joining the cast, Variety’s Justin Kroll speculated on Twitter that he would be playing a younger version of Morpheus. In the original trilogy, Morpheus, the captain of the Nebuchadnezzar who pulls back the proverbial curtain for Neo, is played by Laurence Fishburne. That role has gone on to become an iconic one both because of its relevance to the story and Fishburne’s other-worldly character portrayal. It makes sense, then, that Wachowski would want to be selective in her recasting of the role.

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Before Abdul-Mateen was cast, Wachowski reportedly met with several actors concerning a leading role in Matrix 4. This, complied with the rumors of a young Morpheus, led almost everyone to believe that Abdul-Mateen’s role would be tied to Morpheus is some way. Now, The Illuminerdi has confirmed that Abdul-Mateen will be playing a younger version of Morpheus.

MBTI Personality Types Of The Matrix Characters

One of the biggest questions regarding Matrix 4 has been whether or not Fishburne will return in some way. The fact that Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne are returning to the roles of Neo and Trinity, respectively, who both died at the end of The Matrix Revolutions, makes it seem like he should. Unfortunately, there has been no word official word Fishburne's involvement. The idea of a younger Morpheus has led many to ponder the possibility of a time-travel-esque story in Matrix 4—a plot which may exist around that of the original three Matrix movies.

Abdul-Mateen’s casting appears to perfectly align itself with his increasingly impressive profile. From television roles to his big-screen breakthrough in films like Aquaman and Us, Abdul-Mateen is gradually becoming a very recognizable face. His most recent role in HBO’s Watchmen as the mysterious Cal Abar is arguably his most game-changing project so far, and his shocking performance makes Abdul-Mateen feel like the perfect choice to play Morpheus in a movie which could change the way we look at the entire world/story of The Matrix. Whether this happens remains to be seen; however, with upcoming roles in numerous high-profile films, not the least of which is Matrix 4, Abdul-Mateen is primed to become a movie star in a big way.

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Source: The Illuminerdi

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