Could The Matrix be making a comeback to our screens?

15 Mar 2017

Is The Matrix coming back? Image: Carsten Erler/Shutterstock

Reports of a remake, or reboot, of The Matrix have grown, with Warner Bros apparently in discussions to deliver an update – two decades after the original airing.

In 1999, the Wachowski sisters brought The Matrix, one of the biggest movies of that decade, to our screens.

Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving starred alongside Keanu Reeves in the sci-fi blockbuster trilogy, as the latter’s character Neo realised he was humanity’s last hope of a true and meaningful existence.

It was such a success – a budget of $363m for the three films saw $1.6bn in returns – that consistent whispers have circulated of a follow-up, prequel or entire remake.

Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, something of a modern take is on the cards.

The details are scant to play with, though Michael B Jordan, star of Rocky reboot Creed, is already rumoured to be involved.

Joel Silver, who produced the original trilogy, reportedly approached Warner Bros about the trilogy’s potential for a new airing, though The Hollywood Reporter claims his interest in the films was sold for $30m several years ago.

“[Warner Bros] is said to be leery of including him in any meaningful role, as he not only has a reputation for budget-control issues, but apparently has a strained relationship with the Wachowskis,” said the report.

“The siblings hold much more meaning for fans than the producer.”

The appeal of The Matrix to Warner Bros is obvious when the success of the Star Wars reboot is taken into consideration.

Star Wars’ first three movies were released between the years 1977 and 1983, with the 1999-2005 period seeing the subsequent release of three prequels.

The 2015 release of a seventh chapter, The Force Awakens, proved so successful to Disney, the company behind the revamp, that it’s pretty hard to see when the franchise will ever end.

Something similar for The Matrix is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Updated, 4.49pm, Wednesday 15 March 2017: This article was updated to correct a reference to the Wachowskis as brothers.

Gordon Hunt was a journalist with Silicon Republic

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