In April 2024, Warner Bros. announced that a new ‘Matrix’ instalment was in the works, and that Drew Goddard would write and direct it, loosely titled ‘The Matrix 5.’ No casting or plot details were revealed.
This supposed first ‘Matrix’ film not directed by a Wachowski was announced almost two years ago, and since then we’ve gotten zero updates on it — not from Warners, not from Goddard — to the point where some suspected the project was shelved.
Today, in an interview with ScreenRant, Goddard — who wrote the upcoming “Project Hail Mary” — confirmed that the fifth instalment is “still in the works.”
I'm in my writing cave writing. I don't know how long I'll be in that writing cave, but whenever I come out, I'll have news to share.
Goddard is best known for directing “The Cabin in the Woods” and “Bad Times at the El Royale.” He’s also writing Ridley Scott’s next film, a western. He previously penned “Cloverfield,” “World War Z,” and “The Matrix.” Prior to that, he was known for his TV work, writing episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Alias,” and “Lost.”
The ‘Matrix’ franchise is coming off 2021’s bewildering “The Matrix Resurrections,” which cost $190 million to make and grossed only $37 million domestically. It didn’t help that the film was extremely divisive, earning a “B-” audience survey ranking from CinemaScore and a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Resurrections’ was a polarizing and unnecessary sequel. I’m not entirely sure how it even got greenlit. Did Warner Bros. even read the script before giving the go-ahead? It practically destroyed the franchise, and that seemed to be the main goal of the film — to dismantle everything that came before it. No wonder Wachowski is out and Goddard is in.
The “Matrix” franchise — including “The Matrix,” “The Matrix Reloaded,” and “The Matrix Revolutions” — has earned $1.8 billion globally. The 1999 original, led by Keanu Reeves, is still, by far, the best and most essential entry.
As for the Wachowskis, they’ve split up. The last film they directed together was 2015’s “Jupiter Ascending.” There’s no reason to believe they’ll have any say in what Goddard is cooking.