The first previews of The Matrix 4 footage support the theory that a young Morpheus will return for the sequel. The footage premiered at CinemaCon and displayed some major stars reprising their roles from the original trilogy, including Keanu Reeves as Neo, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe. Lana Wachowski also returns to direct the fourth installment in The Matrix saga solo after her sister Lilly voiced her desire to move into a different directing genre.
The debuted footage aided in answering some long-held questions regarding how the new Matrix movie, officially titled The Matrix: Resurrections, would re-integrate the deceased characters of Neo & Trinity back into the fold, with Neo seemingly unaware of who he is and going by his Matrix name Thomas. Reeves' character is teased as being re-integrated, with lines such as "I've had dreams that don't seem like dreams. Am I crazy?" evoking memories of "Mr. Anderson" working in his bleak cubicle. Star names tacked onto the Matrix 4 project as un-named characters long ago also shed some light on their roles, such as Neil Patrick Harris, shown in a brief clip to be Thomas/Neo's therapist.
Yet the biggest reveal of the debut Matrix 4 footage was cementing the theory that a young Morpheus will return. Played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, a character closely resembling a young Morpheus is teased in the trailer. His actions add significant credence to this theory in many of the revealed clips, with Abdul-Mateen closely emulating Laurence Fishburne's Morpheus.
One of the biggest clues that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will be portraying a young Morpheus is through the prescient knowledge he exudes in the trailer. Abdul-Mateen's character offers Neo the fabled choice of a red or blue pill, something only Morpheus has ever been shown to do in the original trilogy. Before that, however, Abdul-Mateen's character is seen finding Thomas/Neo in the Matrix's version of San Francisco, where he ends their exchange with the words "time to fly." This indicates that the mysterious character played by Abdul-Mateen is aware that Neo can fly in the Matrix, something only surviving crew members of the Nebuchadnezzar could be aware of.
A further marker that young Morpheus will return in The Matrix: Resurrections is in the dojo scene also teased in The Matrix 4 previews. In this clip, Neo and a young Morpheus fight in a dojo that looks like a room replica from the original Matrix movie. The combat in the clip seems to further emulate Morpheus and Neo's original fight scene, with Morpheus testing his protegee before Neo diverts from the original script and breaks the dojo room with his powers. Laurence Fishburne is absolutely adamant that he will not be reprising his old character in The Matrix: Resurrections, which sees Neo forget who he is, stating, "I'm not involved, and you'll have to talk to Lana Wachowski, and she'll answer that question for you." If this truly is the case, then the door is seemingly wide open for Abdul-Mateen to make the role his own in The Matrix 4, and if the CinemaCon trailer is anything to go by, he is already doing just that.
