Even with cities and their movie theaters cautiously reopening after being shut down for three months, studios are not risking box office failure with their big tentpole films. Just shortly after delaying Wonder Woman 1984 to October 2, comes word that Warner Bros. is halting the 2021 release of the highly-anticipated fourth The Matrix film. The film was initially supposed to hit theaters in May 2021.
The studio has pushed it to Spring 2022.
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No word on if this move will affect the scheduled Chicago production that was supposed to happen later this year.
In addition to pushing the third sequel, the studio also removed the Anne Hathaway-led Witches remake from the release schedule. The film was set to hit theaters in October 2020.
Warner Bros. shifted several other tentpole films including Godzilla vs. Kong to May 2021 — The Matrix sequel’s previous spot. The studio also moved Tom & Jerry to March 2021 from its December 2020 release date.
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.
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.
SOURCE: TheWrap
