If rumors
are to be believed
a new Matrix, helmed
by the Wachowskis
could be filming
in town as early
as next year
There is a new rumor making the rounds that ComicBookMovie.com caught wind of.
If it is to be believed, the once successful Matrix franchise will return to the big screen sooner than expected. Lana and Lilly Wachowski are expected to return to helm the new trilogy while Zak Penn (The Incredible Hulk, Ready Player One) is scripting.
Creed’s Michael B. Jordan is also expected to star. Where it gets seriously interesting is that principal photography is reportedly scheduled to start as early as the first half of 2020 in Chicago.
The story reports that a crew is secretly being assembled for pre-production. Art director Hugh Bateup will serve as Production Designer. There is no word on whether this is a prequel, reboot or sequel.
The Matrix trilogy has amassed $1.6 billion worldwide. While Neo and company did make a ton of bank, the two sequels, Reloaded and Revolutions, were not as critically well-received by both audiences and critics alike.
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The film was also the subject of a “legendary” lawsuit. In April 2003, Sophia Stewart filed a legal complaint in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging that the idea of The Matrix (and the 1984 film The Terminator) were plagiarized from her own film treatment entitled The Third Eye.
In a 53-page ruling, Judge Margaret Morrow dismissed the case, stating that Stewart and her attorneys “had not entered any evidence to bolster its key claims or demonstrated any striking similarity between her work and the accused directors’ films.”
Despite the ruling, the case became the subject of “Internet legend”, with many sources claiming Stewart had actually won the lawsuit.
It remains to be seen if Keanu Reeves will return to the titular role of Neo or if Hugo Weaving would return as arch-nemesis, Agent Smith.
Given the poor reception of the last two movies in the franchise, this is definitely a gamble on Warner Bros.’ part as The Wachowskis have proven themselves to be more miss than hit.
Source: Comicbookmovie.com
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com.
