Recently, the first footage for “Matrix 4” was shown at CinemaCon and the official title was announced as “The Matrix: Resurrections,” an obvious nod to the titling of previous sequels, “The Matrix: Reloaded” and “The Matrix: Revolutions.”
Though the title might be similar, there is one major difference between the first three ‘Matrix’ films and the upcoming ‘Resurrections.’ We’re all excited for the return of director Lana Wachowski, who is co-writing and directing the latest sequel, but outside of a couple of quick comments made by her sister, we’ve been curious why co-director/sibling Lilly Wachowski decided to sit on the sidelines. Well, we seemingly have our answer thanks to new quotes picked up by The Wrap.
Wachowski explained today at the Television Critics Association’s Showtime panel to promote her series “Work In Progress.” Citing her transition and the death of their parents, along with the idea of treading old ground with a project like “Matrix 4” being unappealing.
“There was something about the idea of going backwards and being a part of something that I had done before that was expressly unappealing,” Lilly Wachowski said. “Like, I didn’t want to have gone through my transition and gone through this massive upheaval in my life, the sense of loss from my mom and dad, to want to go back to something that I had done before and sort of walk over old paths that I had walked in, felt emotionally unfulfilling and really the opposite. Like I was going to go back and live in these old shoes in a way. And I didn’t want to do that.”
Also, the filmmaker said how “completely exhausted” she was after making “Cloud Atlas,” “Jupiter Ascending,” and “Sense8” back-to-back.
“My world was like falling apart, to some extent, even while I was like, you know, cracking out of my egg,” she added. “So I needed this time away from this industry. I needed to, like, reconnect to myself as an artist. And I did that by going back to school and painting and stuff.”
Wachowski hasn’t spoken to her sister since the sequel wrapped and when asked if the two would work together again, stated, “Who knows?”
The cast for ‘Resurrections’ consists of Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Henwick, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Christina Ricci, and Ellen Hollman. Warner Bros. has doubled down that “The Matrix: Resurrections” is still set to be released on December 22.
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