Whoa: Keanu Reeves returning for The Matrix 4

The Keanussance continues. Variety reports that Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures will make a fourth film in the Matrix franchise, with Keanu Reeves returning as Neo, Carrie Anne Moss returning as Trinity, and Lana Wachowski returning to write and direct. There’s really only one thing to say about that:

“We could not be more excited to be re-entering The Matrix with Lana,” said Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich. “Lana is a true visionary—a singular and original creative filmmaker—and we are thrilled that she is writing, directing and producing this new chapter in The Matrix universe.”

Lana had her own statement: “Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now. I’m very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.”

Speaking of that, the announcement doesn’t mention Lana’s sister Lilly. The siblings wrote and directed the first three Matrix movies — 1999’s The Matrix, 2003’s The Matrix Reloaded, and 2003’s The Matrix Revolution — together, but I guess Lana is flying solo on this new one.

Anyway, if you don’t know, The Matrix movies are about a post-apocalyptic future where robots have subjugated the human race and use human beings as unknowing batteries, all the while keeping them plugged into an elaborate computer simulation — that’d be the Matrix, aka our world — to make sure they stay docile. By the end of The Matrix Revolutions, tensions between robots and humans seem to have abated somewhat, but I suppose there’s always room for things to flare up again.

And hey, wait, didn’t Trinity and Neo both die at the end of those movies? Minor details.

Naturally, Warner Bros. has been wanting to return to The Matrix universe for a while — we’re living in the age of remakes and reboots, after all — but decided to pull the trigger now that Keanu Reeves is enjoying such a surge in popularity, thanks to stuff like the John Wick franchise and winning appearances at video game conferences. Production is due to start in early 2020.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels