In the alternate universe known as Berlin, Germany, production has resumed on the fourth Matrix movie. The film, which had been paused due to the pandemic, has picked back up again, with star Keanu Reeves praising the crew’s approach to safety.
“There’s some really thoughtful, effective protocols in place, and the rhythm of filmmaking has not been really impacted or interrupted, in the sense of filming,” he told the Associated Press. “That’s because of the hard work and organization, and again the thoughtfulness that has gone into the protocols.”
Reeves, who plays lead Neo in the Matrix series and your internet boyfriend in real life, continued, noting that “everyone loves the project.”
“If you’re ever going to get into any kind of situation that needs to be figured out, or ‘How do we do this?’ show business people are the best,” he said. “We’re just scrappy, we know how to get stuff done, we’re inventive, think on our feet, and that kind of kindred spirit of just coming together — goes back to like, you know, ‘Let’s put on a show!’ ‘We’ll get some props, we’ve got some things, we’re going to write!’ And that spirit is definitely alive and well on The Matrix.”
The fourth Matrix movie, written and directed by Lana Wachowski, isn’t the only tentpole resuming production in the wake of the pandemic. James Cameron has resumed production on his infinite Avatar sequels in New Zealand, a nation that had until recently expertly curved the virus. Jurassic World: Dominion has also resumed production at Pinewood Studios just outside London. “We are the guinea pigs who are going to take the leap,” star Bryce Dallas Howard told the New York Times.
Elsewhere in Matrix land, Laurence Fishburne, who played the inimitable Morpheus in the original trilogy, revealed that he won’t be heading to Berlin because he wasn’t asked back for the newest installment.
“I have not been invited. Maybe that will make me write another play. I wish them well. I hope it’s great,” Fishburne told New York magazine. Well, at least the John Wick franchise brought us a Neo-Morpheus reunion of a different nature.
The cast thus far includes Reeves, original franchise stars Carrie Ann Moss and Jada Pinkett Smith, and newcomers Jonathan Groff, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, and Neil Patrick Harris. It’s slated for a 2022 release date.
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