The Matrix Resurrections revisited the world and the characters from the original Matrix trilogy almost twenty years after The Matrix Revolutions, and as such, it proved several decade-old Matrix theories wrong. While a fourth Matrix movie could have never been ruled out given how successful the original trilogy was, rumors of Matrix 4 were previously sparked after it was reported in 2019 that Michael B. Jordan would star in a Matrix reboot. The reported Michael B. Jordan Matrix movie never happened, but Lana Wachowski did eventually direct 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections, a direct sequel to events of The Matrix Revolutions that continued Neo and Trinity's stories.
Given how definite The Matrix Revolutions’ ending was, it was difficult to predict what the story of The Matrix Resurrections would be. The title obviously suggested that Neo and Trinity were somehow going to be resurrected, but it remained unclear exactly how there would be any conflict considering that The Matrix Revolutions ended with a truce. That said, with The Matrix Resurrections picking up from where the original trilogy had left off, the fourth Matrix movie was bound to answer some of the audience's biggest questions regarding the original Matrix trilogy.
From the first trailers for The Matrix to after the release of The Matrix Revolutions, the Matrix films always invited audiences to speculate and theorize about the world and its characters. The Matrix Revolutions’ ending is not exactly simple, which prompted several fan theories that tried to better explain what really happened with Neo, Trinity, Smith, Morpheus, and Zion. The Matrix Resurrections gives definite, canon answers to all of those questions, and thus proves many popular Matrix theories wrong.
No, Zion Was Not A Matrix In A Matrix
Perhaps the most popular Matrix theory is that the human city Zion was actually a Matrix in a Matrix. In other words, it suggests the “real world” known by Morpheus and everyone else who had been freed from the Matrix was actually another level of the Matrix simulation. The biggest piece of evidence for the Matrix in a Matrix theory was that Neo had powers in Zion during The Matrix Revolutions, something that should not happen when Neo is in the real world. Not only that, but the very first Matrix film had already warned its characters and the audiences not to take reality for granted. The Matrix in a Matrix theory continued to be debated for years, but The Matrix Resurrections proved that it was never the case. The Matrix Resurrections does not directly contradict the Matrix in a Matrix theory, but just the fact that the idea of Zion being another Matrix simulation was never brought up in Resurrections reveals that such theory was never in the Wachowskis’ plans for the story.
Agent Smith Was Never The One
Agent Smith can be considered the second half of The One in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions after he merges briefly with Neo in The Matrix, but there were those who believed Smith was actually The One all along. Through his power hunger, Smith himself ended up becoming a threat to the machines. In a way, the machines' defeat in The Matrix Revolutions and the truce Neo achieved only happened because of Smith’s actions – therefore adding to the theory Agent Smith was The One. However, The Matrix Resurrections proves that theory is wrong right from the beginning. Agent Smith returns in The Matrix Resurrections, albeit with a new actor, but the only reason why the rogue program is part of the Analyst’s new Matrix is that Neo was also brought back. By reviving Neo and uploading him in a new iteration of the Matrix, the Analyst ended up bringing Smith back. If Smith was never a priority for the Analyst and for the faction that won the Machines Civil War, then it means he was never The One. Smith’s only purpose was to continue existing, and that is why he helps Neo and Trinity at the of The Matrix Resurrections.
Sati Did Not Become The New Oracle
The Matrix Revolutions dedicated a lot of screen time to Sati, a program that was “born” in the Matrix from two other programs rather than being created by The Source. Although Sati’s potential powers and purpose in the story remained a mystery throughout The Matrix Revolutions, the Oracle believed Sati would have a role to play in the war between machines and humans. Most of Sati’s moments in The Matrix Revolutions were with the Oracle, which prompted many to theorize Sati was destined to become the new Oracle. Close to The Matrix Resurrections’ release, it was theorized that Priyanka Chopra was playing a future version of Sati, which was eventually proved right. However, Sati did not become the new Oracle. In fact, the Oracle program was pruned by the Analyst after the Machines Civil War. Still, Sati had a key role in The Matrix Resurrections, as she was the one who helped Neo find Trinity in the Anomaleum.
Neo And Trinity Did Die In Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix Revolutions’ ending can be considered bittersweet. For years, many refused to believe that both Neo and Trinity had really died in Revolutions, and there were several theories that tried to explain how at least one of them could still be alive. For example, there were those who believed both Neo and Trinity had been uploaded into the machines’ Source, having them become immortals inside the Matrix. However, The Matrix Resurrections confirms that Neo and Trinity did die at the end of The Matrix Revolutions. The only reason why Neo and Trinity are back in The Matrix Resurrections is that the machines were able to physically resurrect their bodies using resurrection pods created by Rama, Sati’s father, who had become the Analyst’s new Matrix Chief Engineer after the Machine Civil War.
Morpheus Was Never A Villain
While not so popular as other Matrix theories, Morpheus secretly being a villain was also an oft-voiced idea. The "Morpheus is a villain" theory was originally more connected with the first Matrix movie, and it suggested that Morpheus was nothing but a program designed to give humanity false hope when they were, in fact, still controlled by the machines. That theory was connected with the Matrix in a Matrix theory, as it suggested that Morpheus was leading humans to yet another level of the simulation. The Matrix Resurrections not only ignores that theory but also makes it clear that the Matrix Online game was indeed canon. Therefore, the real Morpheus had died decades prior to the events of The Matrix Resurrections. Zion was very much real, and after it was destroyed, Niobe led the survivors who would eventually find a new human city, IO.