Wachowski says ‘Matrix’ is transgender allegory

Before COVID-19 shut down production last March, Chicago-born director Lana Wachowski was deep into filming the fourth, the first of a new trilogy, Matrix film for Warner Bros. Since then, the Keanu Reeves-Carrie Anne-Moss sci-fi pic has resumed production in Belgium.

Sister Lilly, who identified as trans along with her sister after the films came out, sat down to talk with Netflix Film Club and elaborated on the first film’s underlying meanings.

The director explains that the films have always been “meaningful” for trans people. “That was the original intention but the world wasn’t quite ready,” she says in the video.

Lilly adds “the corporate world wasn’t ready” for an allegory – a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning – about transgender people. “They come up to me and say these movies saved my life. I’m grateful I can be throwing them a rope to help them along their journey.”


ALSO READ: Lilly Wachowski on why she left Hollywood


Fans have speculated about potential meanings behind the iconic films and Lilly confirmed the theory to Netflix. Watch below:

Lana was the first of the siblings to transition, telling the New Yorker in 2012 how much she was struggling with her gender identity around the time of the second and third Matrix films.

“Transgender people without support, means and privilege do not have this luxury. And many do not survive. I’m glad that it has gotten out,” Wachowski noted.

Lana Wachowski is directing the film without sister Lilly. She will also produce the film along with Grant Hill. Wachowski is writing the screenplay for The Matrix sequel with Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell. Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures will produce and distribute globally.


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The cast will also be comprised of Keanu Reeves, Carrie Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jonathan Groff, and Neil Patrick Harris and Eréndira Ibarra.

The trilogy has grossed over $1.6 billion at the WW box office.

There is set to be a fourth film in the series, directed by Lana alone, expected for 2022.

SOURCE: Netflix Film Club

Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1