Warner Bros. has officially announced The Matrix 5, though details of its production have broken a rule the company established in 2021.

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Warner Bros. has announced a new film in The Matrix franchise, breaking a critical sequel rule the company established in 2021. The original 1999 classic is considered one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, originating from the minds of the Wachowski sisters. The pair went on to co-write and co-direct two immediate sequels, both of which were released in 2003, without reaching the same acclaim as the original. In 2021, the franchise was brought back with a sequel aptly named The Matrix Resurrections, becoming even more divisive than previous installments.

The first three Matrix movies are now streaming on Netflix.

The four Matrix movies vary in quality, and with such a shaky franchise comes a significant risk in continuing to expand it. Yet, an article from THR announced that Warner Bros. has finally confirmed The Matrix 5, with intriguing information surrounding its production. First off, the article makes no confirmations regarding Keanu Reeves or Carrie-Anne Moss’s roles in the sequel and announces that Drew Goddard will be the movie’s writer/director. Goddard has previously worked on sci-fi projects like The Martian, Lost, and Cloverfield.

Warner Bros. Suggested The Matrix 5 Would Only Happen With Lana Wachowski

A 2021 Interview Established That The Future Of The Matrix Was In Lana Wachowski’s Hands

Leading up to 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections, the franchise’s future was brought into question. The Matrix is one of the few famous franchises to be handled by only one creative vision: Lana Wachowski’s. Though she worked with her sister on the original trilogy, she directed the fourth film individually. Despite the rocky sequel reviews, Lana Wachowski is still coveted for her visionary work on one of the most innovative and well-regarded movie franchises ever, and WarnerMedia CEO Ann Sarnoff suggested in 2021 that the company would trust Wachowski’s sole vision going forward.

The production of The Matrix 5 without Lana Wachowski’s directing is consistent with his idea to maximize the company’s major titles.

The decision to move forward without Wachowski as writer/director is surprising but also makes a lot of sense. David Zaslav has been the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery since 2021, and Sarnoff has since stepped down from her role. Zaslav has keenly expressed his views on utilizing Warner Bros.’s esteemed franchises, such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the DC Comics universe, to their full effect. The production of The Matrix 5 without Lana Wachowski’s directing is consistent with his idea to maximize the company’s major titles, even if it means going forward with divisive perceptions from fans.