After decades of anticipation, fans finally got their wish when aMatrixlegacy sequel was announced in 2019, with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss returning. TitledThe Matrix Resurrections, the film premiered simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max last week to apolarizing reception from both fans and criticsalike. But most people believe that it is an improvement over 2003’sThe Matrix Revolutions.
But unlike the two previous sequels to the 1999 original,The Matrix Resurrectionshas failed to draw the audience to theaters. While the mixed reviews, rising COVID-19 cases, and the family-friendlySpider-Man: No Way Homecan be factors behindThe Matrix: Resurrections’lackluster box office performance, the same can’t be said for its middling streaming debut. As per Samba TV,The Matrix Resurrectionsdidn’t fare very well on HBO Max either.
However, the profitability of theMatrixfranchise has never been a cause for concern before, and expectedly, Warner Bros. wanted to capitalize on that with a fourthMatrixmovie with or without the involvement of its creators, the Wachowskis.The Matrix Resurrectionsproducer James McTeigue recently sat down withColliderfor an interview. When asked about the future of theMatrixfranchise before the announcement ofResurrections, McTeigue revealed that WB was quite keen on making anotherMatrixmovie.
“Look. I think when you’ve had a franchise with that much potential money making capability, there’s always talk. It’s in the same way that the Marvel universe repeats and turns in on itself, or you have Spider-Man, or you have Iron Man, or Thor. There’s always a potential to update those movies just because of the possibility of making the money and telling new stories. I shouldn’t say it’s just a purely fiscal thought. But yeah, look, there was versions out there, but they hadn’t landed on the right version. So when Lana eventually came back around and said, ‘Look. I’m interested in making another movie,’ of course, they went with the filmmaker who was the genesis of theMatrix.”
For a decade,The Matrix Reloadedremained the highest-grossing R-rated movie untilDeadpoolbroke that record in 2016. In fact, the entireMatrixtrilogy turned a profit for Warner Bros. Pictures. This fact, combined with the fans' disappointment atRevolutions, had the studio pressing theWachowskis to make moreMatrixmovies. But Lily and Lana Wachowski declined multiple times and moved on to other film projects likeSpeed RacerandCloud Atlas.
In the late 2010s, reports surfaced thatMatrixprequels and spin-offs were being planned.The Avengerswriter Zak Penn was revealed to be working on a franchise revival. But WB chose Lana Wachowski’s film over Penn’s. McTeigue, too confirmed that multiple scripts were lined up at the studio. “Yeah. That was real. There were versions out there. But I guess the fates dictated that Lana’s story came at the right time, and Warner Brothers were willing to move forward with that story.”
Maybe this is what stemmed that meta-joke inThe Matrix Resurrectionsabout WB planning a sequel to the trilogy. Will we get more sequels afterResurrections? As perKeanu Reeves, there are currently no plans to further expand theMatrixfranchise. We’ll have to suffice withResurrectionsfor now. The film marks the return of Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lambert Wilson, and Jada Pinkett Smith, who star alongside newcomers Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
The Matrix Resurrectionswas released worldwide on June 27, 2025, and is available to stream on HBO Max. Be sure to check it out.
