It's been revealed today that Drew Goddard is set to write and direct a new Matrix movie for Warner Bros. Discovery. Rumours of a reboot or spin-off have persisted for years, and while we don't know which category this one will fall into, today's news should excite fans of the franchise.
Goddard, who is best known for writing The Martian and directing The Cabin in the Woods, will be joined by Lana Wachowski as executive producer.
The Matrix was released in 1999 to widespread acclaim, with The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions following in 2003. They didn't receive anywhere near as warm a response, and Lana returned to the property (without Lilly) in 2021 for The Matrix Resurrections.
That also struggled to strike a chord with fans, so now feels like the right time for something new.
There's currently no word on whether original Matrix leads Keanu Reeves, Carrie Anne-Moss, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving would be involved in any way, but we're not banking on it.
Jesse Ehrman, Warner Bros. Motion Pictures President of Production said, "Drew came to Warner Bros. with a new idea that we all believe would be an incredible way to continue the Matrix world, by both honoring what Lana and Lilly began over 25-years ago and offering a unique perspective based on his own love of the series and characters."
"The entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery is thrilled for Drew to be making this new Matrix film, adding his vision to the cinematic canon the Wachowskis’ spent a quarter of a century building here at the studio."
Goddard adds, "It is not hyperbole to say The Matrix films changed both cinema and my life. Lana and Lilly’s exquisite artistry inspires me on a daily basis, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to tell stories in their world."
The filmmaker also helmed Bad Times at the El Royale and counts the likes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Cloverfield, Daredevil, Lost, and World War Z among his many credits.
This news presumably takes him out of the running to direct Spider-Man 4 for Marvel Studios. It's possible he can do both, though it seems unlikely Goddard would jump from one world to the other in such quick succession.
The Matrix franchise revolves around a dystopian future where sentient machines control humanity in a simulated reality called the Matrix to harvest their bioelectricity. The protagonist, Neo, discovers his reality is a simulation and joins a rebellion against the machines.