Laurence Fishburne has said that he understands why people ask him about the The Matrix 4 even though he's not in the movie. The upcoming movie slated for release in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22 is the third sequel to 1999's The Matrix directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. Fishburne played Morpheus in the first three movies, a mentor figure to Keanu Reeves's protagonist, Neo.
Fishburne has a number of movies being released in 2021, including The Ice Road starring Liam Neeson on Netflix now. He also reunited with Reeves for the two John Wick sequels in 2017 and 2019 in which he plays 'The Bowery King', a role he will reprise in John Wick 4. Fishburne is also currently working as an executive producer on an animated series for Disney based on the Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
In an interview with Collider, Fishburne said that he understands why people ask him if he's in the next Matrix movie. Given his central role in the first three movies, it makes sense to him that people would be hoping to see Morpheus return in a long-awaited fourth movie in the franchise. But it's a question asked in vain - Fishburne says he won't be making an appearance. Read his answer in full below when asked if he is bothered by questions about the film:
"No, I completely understand that - that makes sense. I mean, it would make sense that people would ask me that. So it doesn't get old. I am not in the next Matrix movie. You'd have to ask Lana Wachowski why because I don't have an answer for that."
The answer may lie in the extended universe of The Matrix, with the story continued beyond the big screen by a series of video games and graphic novels. While Fishburne reprised Morpheus for the Path of Neo video game, the character was killed on May 26, 2005 as part of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game The Matrix Online. After planting a bomb in the Rumbaar water treatment facility, Morpheus was caught off-guard by the Assassin and died from gunshot wounds. A number of theories have suggested Morpheus faked his death, although he remained deceased when the game shut down in July 2009.
Given the involvement of the Wachowskis in these games, the death of Morpheus is canon and would likely be Lana Wachowski's reason for not casting Fishburne in The Matrix 4. It's possible that Fishburne is sworn to secrecy, and that Morpheus will in fact return in the movie, explaining his nonchalant attitude to questions about his role. And with test screenings using the subtitle 'Resurrections', it's possible that Morpheus and other characters from the original Matrix may return to the universe come December.
Source: Collider
