A Matrix 5 in preparation, with Drew Goddard at the helm

Are you ready to return to the Matrix? In any case, this is what Warner Bros. seems to think, which has just formalized the development of a fifth film Matrix. This will be written and directed by Drew Goddard.

The return of Neo?

This new opus will be the first in the franchise not to be directed by Lana and Lily Wachowski, co-creators of the Matrix universe. Only Lana Wachowski remains on the project as executive producer.

The Wachowskis therefore hand over here to Drew Goddard, director of The Evil One The cabin in the woods And Bad times at the el Royale hoteland best known for his work as a screenwriter on the films Alone on Mars, Cloverfield, World War Z and the series Lost And Daredevil. A solid CV which should (a little) reassure fans.

Jesse Ehrman, president of productions at Warner Bros. Pictures, explained the motivation behind this “Matrix 5”: “Drew came to Warner Bros. with a new idea that we thought would be an incredible way to continue the world of The Matrix, both honoring what Lana and Lilly started over 25 years ago and providing a unique perspective based on his own love of the saga and the characters”.

For his part, Drew Goddard was visibly honored by his new mission: “Lana and Lilly’s exquisite artistry inspires me every day and I am beyond grateful for the chance to tell stories in their world.”

If the return of Neo, Morpheus and Trinity is uncertain, and the story of this new film has not been revealed, Ehrman nevertheless declared that he “will advance the fantasy world without straying too far from what made the series successful”. It’s hard to be more vague, but Warner seems to want to stay as faithful as possible to the world created by the Wachowskis.

It is an understatement to say that when it was released in 1999, the first Matrix has profoundly shaken up cinema and spectators with its visual ambition and its visionary story, questioning like no one before our relationship with artificial intelligence and virtual worlds. The film will be a real phenomenon and will collect 465 million dollars at the box office and win 4 Oscars.

• Watch the trailer for Matrix :

In 2003, Matrix Reloaded And Matrix Revolutions will open the universe of the first opus and will meet with unequal success with respectively 738 and 427 million dollars garnered at the worldwide box office. In a completely innovative approach at the time, the Wachowskis developed their world at the same time via other mediums such as comics, video games (Enter the Matrix) or an animated series (Animatrix).

The fourth film Matrix Resurrectionsreleased in 2021, was a failure both critically and publicly, with only $159 million collected worldwide, putting a halt to the development of the franchise… or at least that’s what it was. ‘we thought until today.