Footage from The Matrix Resurrections confirms that a fistfight between Neo and his mentor Morpheus is nowhere near as close as it was in the original film. The new movie, which features Keanu Reeves returning to perhaps his most iconic role, is the subject of intense speculation, with notable actors being replaced and key roles seemingly absent. However, thanks to the first trailer, it's clear that The One remains an incredibly powerful combatant capable of besting even someone as skilled as Morpheus in one-to-one combat.
In the first movie, Morpheus acts as both a mentor and an instructor to Neo, revealing the truth about the Matrix as well as how Neo can manipulate the mechanics of the alternate reality. It's thanks to Morpheus' training that Neo discovers his powers and is ultimately able to assume the mantle of The One. While later films make it clear that Neo is arguably the most powerful being within the Matrix, initially at least, Morpheus is able to beat him in a fistfight. However, as footage from the upcoming film makes clear, this is not the case this time around.
In an echo from the original 1999 blockbuster, the Matrix 4 trailer shows Morpheus and Neo fighting in a simulated dojo. However, whereas the first film suggests that the pair are, at least initially, pretty well matched, the new footage implies that Neo is totally dominant – blasting a defeated Morpheus out of the arena through a combination of physical superiority and telekinesis. This suggests that either Neo is significantly more powerful than he was during the first film, or Morpheus (played by Candyman's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is far less accomplished in the upcoming movie.
There are several possible explanations behind why the two characters might have such drastically different power levels. For starters, the Neo portrayed in The Matrix 4 is significantly older than the character from the original trilogy. Assuming that the new film is a direct follow-up to the original Matrix movies, this suggests that this Neo has already unlocked the powers that he had yet to discover during the first Matrix fight. As a result, it would make total sense for Neo to easily defeat Morpheus, considering that he is able to stop bullets with his mind and fly.
Another possible explanation is that the version of Morpheus revealed in the new trailer is actually a younger version of the existing character. This would also make sense considering the age discrepancy between actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and the original Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne. If this is the case, it could well be that the new Morpheus is a less accomplished fighter than the character audiences are already familiar with, having not had as much of an opportunity to refine his skills. Either way, while the apparent ease with which Neo defeats Morpheus might surprise some viewers, it clearly makes sense within the world of The Matrix Resurrections.
