Drew Goddard to Direct and Write “The Matrix 5” with Executive Producer Lana Wachowski

Warner Bros. Discovery has found a way to keep the decades-long The Matrix franchise running. The studio has announced it has director Drew Goddard and executive producer Lana Wachowski working on The Matrix 5.

The way The Matrix 4: Resurrections received a divided response by critics and fandom isn’t up for debate. The Critic and the Audience Scores sit at 63% over at Rotten Tomatoes. Directed and co-written by Lana Wachowski, the film was able to gross only $159.2 million worldwide at the box office against a reported budget of $190 million. Now, I get that it was released back in December of 2021 and was made available on HBO Max, too. However, considering the movie had some of the OG cast returning, you would think The Matrix Resurrections would have had a bigger impact.

But anyway, what’s done is done. The divided response and low box office numbers clearly didn’t make Warner Bros. Discovery want to temporarily shelf such an iconic IP. It turns out that Drew Goddard pitched an idea for a fifth film in the franchise that the studio couldn’t refuse. 

Along with directing the upcoming movie, Goddard will also co-write and produce the project with his partner at Goddard Textiles, Sarah Esberg. 

The details about the plot are being kept strictly under wraps. So, there’s no confirmation about Keanue Reeves’ Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity returning after what they went through during the fourth film.

But Jesse Ehrman, the President of Production at Warner Bros. Motion Pictures, did share that Goddard presented “a new idea” that’s going to be an “incredible way to continue to the Matrix world” while “honoring” the Wachowskis and “offering a new perspective” that’s based on Goddard’s love for the franchise. 

Certain fans have been speculating about how the fifth installment might end up being some kind of reboot with a new lead character or it could be a story that serves as both a prequel to the original Matrix as well as a continuation set in the lore’s near future.

The Animatrix anthology movie from 2003 had a lot of content that helped flesh out the world. So, we might get to see similar elements pop up.

Goddard is an Oscar-nominated writer for 2015’s The Martian in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. His resume includes Cloverfield, World War Z, The Cabin in the Woods, and Bad Times at the El Royale. So, I’m kind of excited about what he will bring to The Matrix IP. He seems to have an eye for the creepy, action, and emotional moments.

As far as my opinion goes, I’m okay with Goddard taking over. I mean, due to the first The Matrix film coming out back in 1999, changing the global movie landscape forever, but being unable to deliver sequels that could live up to the OG, it might be time to press the refresh button by bringing in some new blood.

Are you excited about The Matrix 5?

Let us know.

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(via Variety)

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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