The Matrix 5: The new director will only continue on one condition

Update on "The Matrix 5": Screenwriter and director Drew Goddard has attached a condition to the planned production of the fifth installment. Apparently, he places great importance on the opinion of the Wachowskis, who originally created the "Matrix" franchise. As Lilly Wachowski has now revealed, Goddard cares so much about what they think of his sequel that he's apparently making a demand. Speaking to the radio station KCRW, Wachowski said:

"[Drew Goddard] doesn't wanna go forward unless he gets our blessing. And so, it becomes this complicated situation where, maybe we're gonna stick our noses in a tiny bit and see how we feel, and if we wanna pass on our blessing to Drew or not. So, it could be something that's coming down the road, but it's still unknown."

This raises the question: What happens if the Wachowskis actually disagree with the direction in which the "Matrix" universe they created is developing under Goddard's direction? Will the film studio then have to find another director? We'll see. In any case, Lilly Wachowski has no interest in directing another installment herself, as she also made clear in an interview with KCRW:

"Warner Bros., they wanna make another thing. They're always gonna wanna make another thing. Personally, I don't wanna play in that sandbox anymore. I'm kinda done."

While she rules out a return to the "Matrix" franchise, Lilly Wachowski is currently working to get another film off the ground. She's trying to secure financing for "The Hunted," a dystopian political thriller that's set to feature an all-trans cast. This is said to be anything but easy, as – according to Wachowski – the film industry has no interest in producing the film due to its exclusively trans cast.

The Matrix 5 is still a long time coming

As far as the production of "The Matrix 5" is concerned, progress appears to be slow. It was announced back in 2024 that Drew Goddard would be directing the next installment. Since then, however, things have been relatively quiet regarding the sequel. Goddard was at least able to reassure fans looking forward to another installment of the "Matrix" series a few months ago. The director confirmed that he is still working on the film and is busy writing the screenplay. However, it remains to be seen when we'll get to see the sequel and exactly what the new story will be about. Previously, those in charge had hinted that they wanted to stay true to the original while also expanding the "Matrix" universe. Whether the original lead actors – Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne – will be involved remains to be seen.

The first "Matrix" film from 1999, written and directed by the Wachowskis, is a modern classic of science fiction cinema. It centers on a world ruled by intelligent machines. The enslaved humans are unaware of this. Through a simulation, they are led to believe that they live in a world similar to our own. A resistance group led by the protagonists Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus takes up the fight against the machines.

A breath of fresh air for the Matrix franchise

The film became a hit and grossed $463 million at the global box office. Four years later, the sequels "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions" followed, also directed by the Wachowskis. "Reloaded" grossed $739 million, while "Revolutions" grossed $427 million. While the first film was frenetically celebrated, the sequels were not quite as well received by critics. A fourth installment, "The Matrix Resurrections," was released in 2021. This time, only Lana Wachowski directed the film. However, "Resurrections" failed to make much of an impact and grossed only $157 million at the box office.

With "The Matrix 5," Drew Goddard could now breathe new life into the franchise. Since the 2000s, the filmmaker has made a name for himself as a top-tier screenwriter, thanks in part to his work on TV series such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," and "Lost." He made his feature film directorial debut in 2011 with the multi-layered horror film "The Cabin in the Woods." In 2016, he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay for the sci-fi drama "The Martian." Most recently, he wrote the screenplay for the sci-fi film "Project Hail Mary," which features a star-studded cast including Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller and became a box office hit. Will he also lead the "Matrix" series back to success? We'll see.