Laurence Fishburne confirmed that he was not asked to return for the upcoming The Matrix 4. The actor portrayed Morpheus, mentor to Keanu Reeves' Neo and the enigmatic leader of the human resistance, in the original Matrix trilogy. The character and Fishburne's portrayal became an iconic figure in pop culture - with Morpheus, arguably, being the most recognizable character from The Matrix franchise next to Neo himself. In The Matrix Revolutions, the final film in the original trilogy, we last see Morpheus celebrating as the machines retreat from their attack on Zion.
When the cast list for The Matrix 4 was released, Fishburne's name was noticeably absent. Considering his importance to the trilogy, and the fact that original Matrix cast members like Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss were set to reprise their roles, no Morpheus in the sequel caused a lot of worry among the fandom about what happened to his character, or if Fishburne himself didn't want to return. The upcoming film's enigmatic nature already inherently draws in speculation - since almost nothing is known about the plot - and the potential lack of Fishburne's Morpheus only exasperates this.
Speaking to New York Magazine (via The Wrap), Fishburne stated that he was never even asked to return for The Matrix 4. The actor confirmed that he wouldn't be a part of Lana Wachowski's film, but also said that he has nothing but well wishes for the film and its crew, explaining, "I have not been invited. Maybe that will make me write another play. I wish them well. I hope it’s great.”
Fishburne's confirmation that he won't be a part of the upcoming film does pose some interesting questions. There are some theories out there that would explain the character's absence - Morpheus was killed off in The Matrix Online, an MMORPG that is supposed to be part of the films' canon. From the game's inception, it was designed as a means to continue The Matrix's story after the films were complete. While it has never been confirmed whether or not The Matrix 4 will be connected to the game's story, the lack of Fishburne's Morpheus could serve as another strong indication that the MMO's plot is still canon.
It's unclear what a Matrix film without Fishburne will be like. While he isn't the only actor from the original Matrix trilogy that won't be returning, his lack of involvement in the project is certainly the most noteworthy. Fishburne's importance to the franchise can't be ignored, and the idea that Morpheus won't be in the film, or might potentially be played by a different actor, is a hard pill for fans to swallow. It's clear that the franchise is moving in a new direction with The Matrix 4, and Fishburne's absence is one of the biggest signs of that change.
Source: New York Magazine (via The Wrap)
