Thank God for
The Playlist! They have actually done some real investigative reporting, reaching out to
Keanu Reeves' reps about this proposed Matrix continuation he announced in London recently and they denied the story completely;
none of it is truehe did not speak nor get an award from the from the London International School Performing Arts.
Keanu Reeves' box office stock is the lowest it's been in his twenty year leading man Hollywood career (seriously, did anyone see Henry's Crime?), and who can forget the very public dismissal of Speed Racer, the last movie from the Wachowski's? You kinda new a rumour like this would start up sooner rather than later. According to an
AICN contributor called 'El Nino', Keanu Reeves mentioned the prospect of further films in
The Matrix saga during a keynote at The London School Of Performing Arts, along with discussing his up and coming projects including his 3D samurai film 47 Ronin. Here's a snippet of El Nino's transcription;
'Says he met the Wachowski's (no emphasis on the word brothers), for lunch over Christmas and stated that they had completed work on a two picture script treatment that would see him return to the world of the matrix as Neo. Says the brothers have met with Jim Cameron to discuss the pro's and con's of 3D and are looking to deliver something which has never been seen again. Keanu stated that he still has an obligation to the fans to deliver a movie worthy of the title "The Matrix" and he swears this time that the treatment will truly revolutionise the action genre like the first movie.'
So what do we make of all this? Reeves and the Wachowski's haven't enjoyed a major hit since the Matrix trilogy ended eight years ago and they may be using the idea of further sequels as a bargaining chip for future risque projects, such as their Iraq War gay love story that
looked to have stalled over financing. All the parties involved may also feel the urge to erase Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions from our memories. The advances made in visual effects technology of course is another factor that might have re-ignited their interest in the franchise. The original film and the famous bullet time sequences revolutionised special effects and were endlessly copied and parodied and the new dawn of 3D technology may have just got them thinking of the possibilities.
For certain we will not be seeing anything new in The Matrix for a good while yet as
The Wachowskis have Cloud Atlas with Tom Tykwer in development
and also Hood, their all action modern day update of the Robin Hood legend potentially starring Will Smith to get cracking on yet. What are your thoughts on The Matrix sequels and would you like to return to the franchise?