“The Matrix: Resurrection” is the fourth installment of the “The Matrix” franchise that first launched back in 1999. It then was followed up by two more sequels, both of which were released in 2003. Since then, we haven’t had any real reason to dive back into the system, though that really hasn’t stopped fans from demanding one since the third ended with an unstable truce. And after a decade or so of waiting, Lana Wachowski is bringing most of the gang back together, including Keanu Reeves who will reprise his role as Neo. Although, it’s not exactly clear how he made his miraculous “resurrection” or why the humans and the machines are at war again.
Though it is not an official teaser, Warner Bros. has dropped a first look at The Matrix: Resurrection through a website that is a bit of a nod to the original choice given by Morpheus, where you can decide to take the red pill or blue pill, and a bit of viral marketing. While most would tell you to take the red pill, the reality is that by taking both, you get a glimpse of what is to come when the full trailer hits the web in two days.
Entertainment Weekly discovered that if you go to whatisthematrix.com you will be given a choice of two pills, the red or the blue. The narratives for both are different, but in a twist, depending on the time of day that you are watching, you will get a variety of different clips. But for those that chose the red pill, you will be treated to hearing “This is the moment. For you to show us what is real. Right now, you believe it is (time that you are watching it), but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Could be, this is first day for the rest of your life. But if you want it, you have to fight for it.”
Then there are those who may choose the blue pill that asks “Do you remember how you got here?” Followed by, “You’ve lost your capacity to discern reality from fiction. What’s real is here and now, (time that you are watching it). Anything is just your mind playing tricks on you. It becomes a problem when fantasies endanger us. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, would we?”
Of course, it is hard to get a read or description on any of the clips, but perhaps that is part of the appeal as you get to go back to the matrix multiple times. And there will be a few changes depending on how many times you take a look at it. But as far as I know, you will at least see Reeves and Carrie Ann Moss share an embrace, along with newcomers like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jessica Henwick engaging in some gravity-defying action, and Jonathan Groff looking pretty snazzy.
Other than that, we will just have to wait and see. “The Matrix Resurrections” opens in theaters and launches HBO Max simultaneously on December 22, 2021.
