Exclusive: Yahya Abdul Mateen II Is Young Morpheus In Matrix 4
We've got another Matrix 4 exclusive for you with the word from our sources that Yahya Abdul Mateen II is playing a young Morpheus
Update: This Giant Freakin Robot exclusive was confirmed, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II played a version of Morpheis in The Matrix: Resurrections
Over the last few weeks, we here at Giant Freakin Robot have been dropping exclusives left and right about Matrix 4. And now we have another one that will certainly ramp up some excitement for how this much-anticipated film will lay out its story. According to our trusted and proven sources, we know who Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will play in this next film. He’s been cast as a younger version of Morpheus in the film and will play a digital version of that character. So even though Laurence Fishburne isn’t reprising his iconic part in this upcoming flick, Morpheus will indeed live on in The Matrix franchise.
It’s not totally clear how Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will work his way into the story as young Morpheus. But we’ve already been tipped off about some other plot points that would help round this latest exclusive out. It looks like this film will go down about 60 years following the events of Matrix Revolutions. In this world, Zion is no longer, but the machines and humans are living in relative (though shaky) peace. The original character of Morpheus is no longer alive, hence Fishburne’s absence. It’s unclear how he met his end though, judging by the time frame, it could have just been old age. Niobe (Jada Pinkett-Smith) is now the leader of the humans.
But there is still a version of the computer program running and this is where Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, as a younger Morpheus, could factor in. We might see him simply as a holographic character, meant to convey information about the new world in the context of the Matrix. Or maybe he is a program, running as part of the larger digital landscape. But it could be something else much bigger. If this younger version of Morpheus has been placed within the Matrix itself then Neo could be interacting with him on a much bigger level. Is he also unaware of his reality with Neo now having to bring the story full circle? Could that mean “red pilling” Morpheus into seeing the world for what it is? It would be a fascinating development and make sense for the different character arcs.
This latter piece of speculation would also work its way into another possible plot point. That one has Neo working to free a version of Carrie-Ann Moss’s Trinity from the machine’s grip. If the goal was to bring the narrative arc all the way back to the beginning of the first movie, then this would be the way to go with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as well. Again, this part is simply speculation for what role Abdul-Mateen will have as young Morpheus.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has been making a name for himself among the sci-fi and comic book crowd for the last few years. He had a role as Black Manta in Aquaman back in 2018 and will be reprising that part in the sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. That movie started production in earnest last month. Plus, he played a pivotal role in HBO’s Watchmen as Cal Abar/ Doctor Manhattan. His part was crucial in how the events of the show unfolded and he straddled the line of two very different characters within the series.
In addition to his work in The Matrix and Aquaman franchises, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is about to have another sci-fi turn as well when he takes part in Furiosa, the Mad Max: Fury Road prequel. This guy is just taking over the genre and will soon have a major part in Matrix 4.
