The Matrix Resurrections director Lana Wachowski gives a definitive answer as to whether the new film is the start of a trilogy or not. Wachowski directed the first trilogy for The Matrix with her sister, Lilly, which kicked off in 1999 with the first film. Starring Keanu Reeves (Neo), Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity), Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus), and Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith), the first trilogy told the story of Neo (Reeves), the chosen one who is finally able to turn the tide in the war against the machines of the future. The Matrix was followed by The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both released in 2003.
Since completing The Matrix trilogy, The Wachowski Sisters directed Speed Racer in 2008 with Matthew Fox, Christina Ricci, and Emile Hirsch then jumped into the wildly ambitious adaptation of Cloud Atlas with Tom Hanks and Halle Berry in 2012. In 2015, The Wachowski's released their ambitious sci-fi flick Jupiter Ascending, starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, a critical and commercial failure. They then moved on to the Netflix series Sense8 with J. Michael Straczynski before being canceled in 2018.
Lana Wachowski is now back in the world of The Matrix with the fourth film in the franchise, The Matrix Resurrections, which releases this week in theaters and on HBO Max. The release has sparked rumors that the new movie would be part of a new trilogy of Matrix films, but Wachowski cleared that up at the new film's premiere. Wachowski was jokingly incredulous when AP Entertainment posed the question of The Matrix Resurrections being the first part of a new trilogy, motioning to the producers of the film and saying, "My producers are over there. No." See her full comment in context below:
Lana is directing solo on The Matrix Resurrections as her frequent directing partner (and sister), Lilly, decided to step away from the project before it began, saying that she didn't want to go back to something she had done before. The death of the sisters' parents, which was five weeks apart, was the inspiration for Lana to return to The Matrix, saying that "inventing a story where two people come back to life was healing and comforting" (in reference to Neo and Trinity), saying that she wrote a script for the film just after the loss of her parents with no clear intent on what she'd do with it.
Audiences have grown accustomed to films being part of a greater series, and while it can be commonplace, it's not necessary in every instance. For Hollywood, too, having a series of films planned for a larger franchise can often be more lucrative, especially if shooting schedules are combined to film back-to-back, which saves money in the long run. However, tackling every new film as the first chapter in a broader story can hinder it just as much as build excitement, as it may feel less developed or complete, making the experience far less fulfilling without subsequent chapters. For The Matrix Resurrections, perhaps it's best to see how audiences react before demanding two more The Matrix films right out of the gate.
Source: AP Entertainment
