The box office hit "The Matrix" trilogy is getting picked up for another movie. Although the project was initially dubbed as a "The Matrix" reboot, the film's writer clarifies that it is a completely different film and not a reboot.
Zak Penn, who also wrote "The Incredible Hulk" and "X-Men: The Last Stand," briefly discussed his plans for the new "The Matrix" movie and clarified that he does not intend to do a remake. He also expressed his strong opposition towards recasting the role of Neo, a character portrayed by Keanu Reeves in the original trilogy, and explained that there are still more stories to tap in the Matrix realm.
"Can't comment yet except to say that the words 'reboot' and 'remake' were from an article. Let's stop responding to inaccurate news," Penn wrote. "If I were going to recast Keanu Reeves, I would cast Keanu Reeves."
Penn also made a reference to the "X-Men" movie franchise to give fans an idea of the never-ending story-telling that comes with "The Matrix" movies. He added, "Look at what people are doing with the X-Men universe. Between Logan and Legion and Deadpool, does anyone want them to stop? Not me."
Directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski are not yet attached to the envisioned "The Matrix" project. As for Keanu Reeves, he told Yahoo Movies that he would reprise his role as Neo in the fourth film if the Wachowski siblings are involved in it.
"The Wachowskis would have to be involved," Reeves said. "They would have to write it and direct it. And then we'd see what the story is, but yeah, I dunno, that'd be weird, but why not?"
According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources said that the movie execs are interested in casting "Creed" star Michael B. Jordan for an unknown role.
The Wachowski siblings wrote and directed the original movies and the two sequels. The franchise also starred Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving. The first film became a sleeper hit in 1999, and brought home close to half a billion dollars worldwide. "The Matrix" also won four Academy Awards.