"The Matrix" Remake/Reboot Rumors
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at 12:10PM Robert here with your daily "Wait, What?" news: it looks like iconic film franchise The Matrix will be getting a reboot, or a remake, or more sequels. No one is quite sure!
According to industry insiders Warner Bros. is in the beginning stages of revamping the series launched by the now legendary 1999 movie written and directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. There have been a lot of rumors since just last night surrounding the project, so let's dive into them after the jump...
First of all, no one is sure what the nature of this project is at this early stage in the game. Many are reporting that it will be a remake of the original film, while others have been more vague about the nature of the project. As of now neither the Wachowskis or any of the original stars of the trilogy are in talks to join this new project. Keanu Reeves has previously said that he would be open to returning to the franchise if the Wachowskis were involved, but given that they are knee deep in their Netflix show Sense 8, it's unlikely they would be brought back as writers or directors of the new film(s), especially as the intent seems to be reboot the series.
There has been one rumored piece of casting, which is that Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan has been tapped to play the lead. Some have speculated that perhaps the new movie(s) will be a prequel following the early life of Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne in the original films, which is… an interesting theory. If Warner Bros. is trying to take notes from the way that Disney is milking their newly revamped Star Wars property with spin offs and now the Young Han Solo prequel, Young Morpheus would make sense. Whether that is a good idea for The Matrix is another story all together.
Given the lukewarm reception of the sequels and the lukewarm box office of the third film, The Matrix: Revolutions (all things considered), picking The Matrix as a franchise to reboot really doesn't track. The original movie is firmly in the zeitgeist and as the world churns closer each day into full blown technodystopia its ideas have been viewed as more relevant than ever. That being said, the thing that worked so well about The Matrix was that it was years ahead of its time, and expanding on those ideas in today's political climate will not have the same impact. But given that I lived through Matrixmania while it was happening (first movie I ever watched on DVD!), I may just be biased.
Do you think there is any juice left in this franchise? If Warner Bros. is hell bent on competing in the franchise game with Disney, what else could they bring back from the dead?
Reader Comments (9)
The prequel rumour sounds like it could be interesting, but a straight reboot sounds like a terrible idea. I don't think the Matrix trilogy has built up enough equity over the last decade to warrant a rehash of its story.
Here's my hangup: THE MATRIX was so influential that it inspired umpteen knockoffs and wannabes. Without the Wachowskis involvement, I'm just skeptical that this could be much more than that
Robert: I don't think it was THAT ahead of its time. Not even close. It was thoroughly OF its time, especially costume wise. Blade was the year before and Bryan Singer's first X-Men film was the following year. So, yeah. And the non-costume design stuff? Well...the "I just got done my philosophy major" dialogue is...even more awkward than the speeches in The Dark Knight Saga, even in the original movie. As far as the "Young Morpheus" rumours go? Unless Warner Bros. is willing to produce a movie with Ryan Coogler after he decided to do Black Panther, I'd tell them not to bother.
It's been 18 years, so I think it's a little short-sighted to dismiss the impact The Matrix had. This thing was a full-blown phenomenon. There are so many theories and sub-genres based on The Matrix, that I think you could do some interesting backstory. I like the young-Morpheus idea. Learn from the mistakes of the sequels and keep it feeling fresh.
Don't forget it was also a technological marvel. Nominated for four Oscars and won them all (editing, sound, sound editing, visual FX).
No to a remake.
No to a reboot.
No to a prequel.
No to a sequel.
No. Just. No.
" The Matrix" was a sci-fi special effects landmark- but the sequels were just bad.
Those sequels ruined a perfectly made standalone movie.
OH FUCK NO!!!!!
The first movie stands alone. The sequels didn't ruin it. A remake won't ruin it.
Everyone just chill.