The Matrix Resurrections is the long-awaited revival of The Matrix franchise, and while it received mixed reviews, it actually killed an even better sequel idea. After the conclusion of the original trilogy with The Matrix Revolutions in 2003, fans were curious if they would ever return to the world of The Matrix, as the massive franchise had so many potential stories that could be explored. However, The Matrix Resurrections was mostly a rehash of the original trilogy, adding very few new elements to the series, even though it was already sitting on the perfect story for The Matrix 4.
The Matrix Resurrections sees the return of Neo and Trinity who are now trapped in a reconstructed Matrix after escaping and ending the Machine War in The Matrix Revolutions. However, a young programmer named Bugs enters the Matrix and frees Morpheus from a program, with the two then going on to extract a much older Neo from the Matrix. Throughout the film, Neo, Morpheus, and Bugs' crew attempt to find out why the Machines have once again taken over the Matrix, while also attempting to locate and free Trinity. This may sound like a rehash of the original film (which it is), but it was so close to greatness.
Matrix 4 Should've Been A Next-Generation Sequel
Instead of bringing back characters like Neo and Trinity, The Matrix Resurrections should have focused on an entirely new generation of characters. Characters like Neo and Trinity aren't essential to The Matrix formula, as the world of The Matrix is the interesting hook that pulls audiences in. By bringing back the main characters for The Matrix Resurrections, the film was forced to spend most of its time explaining the convoluted reasons that they are brought back, pushing any new story that the film could have had to the side. While the film may feature meta-commentary on cash-grab nostalgia sequels, that's all The Matrix Resurrections is.
The world of The Matrix is massive and complicated, and since every human in the Matrix also exists in the real world, there are an endless number of stories that could be told. With a new machine-controlled Matrix being created, it'd be fun to have a new cast of characters attempting to escape or take down an upgraded Matrix. The Matrix 4 could have even focused on regular humans in the real world, as Zion and IO are full of them. So many franchises have found success in next-generation sequels, and since The Matrix is more about the world than the characters, Resurrections should have been one of them.
Bugs' Crew Proves The Matrix's Future Could've Worked
Not only should The Matrix 4 have been a next-generation sequel, it already had the perfect next-gen character. The Matrix Resurrections introduces Bugs, played by Jessica Henwick. Bugs is a programmer who escaped the Matrix due to seeing Neo, with the character believing in the legends of Neo once she escaped. After escaping, Bugs gets a crew together and attempts to re-enter the Matrix, freeing Neo and the others. Bugs is one of the few new characters in The Matrix Resurrections, but she's also one of the most interesting, meaning that the franchise's future should've focused on her.
Bugs and her crew are a diverse and interesting group that should have carried The Matrix 4 on their own. Focusing on Bugs, Sequoia, and the machines that have turned good would add a new angle to the franchise, making it more than just a rehash of the original. Bugs' story of escaping the Matrix also would've been the perfect way to carry on Neo's legacy without literally bringing him back. The crew of Bugs' ship, the Mnemosyne, could have easily had their own film. Instead, The Matrix Resurrections chose to bring back old characters and tell a story that has already been told.
Matrix 4 Means A Mnemosyne Sequel Probably Won't Happen
Some viewers of The Matrix Resurrections hoped that the crew of the Mnemosyne would return and star in The Matrix 5, but that probably won't happen now. Due to The Matrix Resurrections' mixed critical reviews and horrible box office performance, The Matrix 5 doesn't seem to be happening, meaning that any hopes of a Mnemosyne-focused movie have been dashed. Instead of focusing on interesting new characters like Bugs and her crew, The Matrix Resurrections only went over old ground, preventing any new stories in the world of The Matrix from being told.