The Matrix 4 Isn’t A Prequel But It Might Be Something Even Worse
The Matrix 4 could signal a brand new start for the series.
The Matrix 4 could signal a new start for the groundbreaking sci-fi series. Keanu Reeves has said something that has piqued our interest. In a recent interview, Reeves negated the theory that this newest film would be a prequel, but said that this would be “another version.”
This wording has led some fans to theorize that The Matrix 4 might be a reboot of the series. We know that Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are returning as Neo and Trinity, but we are not exactly clear on what their roles will be in relation to the newer characters. Is it possible that they will be acting as mentors and passing the torch to a new generation of freedom fighters?
Even more concerning is the fact that The Matrix 4 is possibly going to introduce a new version of the Matrix, a simulated reality program that is used to keep humans unaware that they are being farmed for energy by robots. If that is true, then there will have been a literal reboot of the Matrix in the canon of the films.
Granted, this did happen at the end of The Matrix Revolutions. So, it makes sense for The Matrix 4 to acknowledge this in some way. Of course, this also makes it a symbolic element that the movie could explore. Making traditional sequels has mostly gone out of vogue, especially for movies that have not had an entry for a while. In order to feel accessible to new viewers and to satisfy older fans, most sequels now act as soft reboots.
It is worth assuming that The Matrix 4 will do exactly that. In fact, considering the way the other Matrix sequels were titled – The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions – could this sequel go so far as to call itself The Matrix Rebooted? It is a little too cute of a title but it would act as a descriptor for new fans and a way to imply what the actual story will be about.
Whether or not The Matrix 4 is a reboot, it is definitely one of the most interesting big-budget projects currently being made. With Lana Wachowski returning as director and co-writer, this is as official a continuation of the series as we could get. Nobody thought we would ever get a Matrix sequel with so many of the original players back in the mix. And Warner Bros. seems very committed to allowing this movie to be as artistically vibrant as the original trilogy.
If The Matrix 4 does end up being a reboot, we trust that the people involved know what they are doing. It is likely that we will even be seeing a new visual style to this entry. Could this lend credence to the theory that we will be seeing a brand new version of the Matrix in the world? Whatever is in store, we hope it can recapture the kind of magic we saw in the original trilogy while forging something we have not seen before.
