There’s no denying thatThe Matrixranks among the most influential sci-fi movies ever made, but many fans have soured on the franchise following a series of ambitious sequels that took bold swings that didn’t always pay off. The first of these wasThe Matrix Reloaded, which completely rewrotethe timeline ofThe Matrixand changed the entire meaning behind the original film. Consequently, this sequel was met with extremely mixed reviews upon reception, and none of the subsequent entries have managed to quite live up to the original movie.
There are several reasons whyThe Matrix Reloadedisn’t considered as good as the first movie,but those who aren’t too interested in the lore ofThe Matrixcan still find things to enjoy in the sequel. It’s filled with excellent action sequences, features some strong character work, and has the most stylish visuals of the original trilogy. There’s just one scene that holdsReloadedback from being amongthe bestMatrixmovies.
The Architect Scene In Matrix Reloaded Made The Franchise A Lot More Complicated
This Twist Revealed Everything About The First Movie To Be Different
The ending ofThe MatrixReloadedoffers the game-changing revelation that Keanu Reeves' Neo was never intended to be “The One,” as the Oracle (Gloria Foster/Mary Alice) told him. Instead, he’s just the latest version of “The One,” with each previous iteration given the same choice to end the Matrix and deciding not to.Neo has no memory of these previous lives, which givesReloadedsome very interesting commentary on human autonomyand the illusion of free will.
Unfortunately, the twist also changesThe Matrix’s endingby establishing that Neo isn’t as special as he once thought. He’s not The One in any kind of prophetic way, but simply a feature of the Matrix that exists to offer the illusion of choice to its inhabitants. This decision completely reroutes Neo’s journey through the subsequent sequels, andmany fans were betrayed by the idea thatThe Matrixis now essentially “wrong.”
The Matrix Reloaded Accidentally Set Up The Perfect Way To Reboot The Matrix Movies
There’s A Very Obvious Way To “Reboot” The Matrix
Since the release ofThe Matrix Resurrections, this franchise’s reboot status has been up in the air. The sequels have proven extremely divisive, and while there’s some genuinely intuitive storytelling in the later movies, they aren’t what the longtime fans are looking for. Additionally,Neo’s story is seemingly wrapped up inResurrections, so it wouldn’t make sense forThe Matrix 5to return to his character. The most logical way of continuing this franchise is through a proper reboot or spinoff.
Luckily, the very concept of the Matrix has a built-in reboot function, as explained by The Architect (Helmut Bakaitis) inThe MatrixReloaded. Instead of continuing into the future, the next movie could be some kind of prequel that explains one ofthe Matrix’s previous cycles— before Neo and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) managed to break free inThe Matrix Revolutions.
Matrix 5 Can Explore One Of The Previous Versions Of The Matrix (Without Neo)
This Means That Keanu Reeves Wouldn’t Have To Return
Importantly,Neo was not The One in every previous cycle of the Matrix.Although this is whatThe MatrixReloadedseems to suggest by displaying Neo’s face on all the computers in The Architect’s room, this is merely a stylistic choice to illustrate how Neo’s role is essentially the same as the previous incarnations, even if they’re not the same person.
The story could focus on what led this previous version of The One to decideagainstending the Matrix, serving as the perfect counterpart to Neo’s journey in the original trilogy.
This makes the possibility of a “rebooted"Matrixprequel even more plausible, asit would follow a completely different character from Neo, opening up the possibility of a dynamic new cast.The story could focus on what led this previous version of The One to decideagainstending the Matrix, serving as the perfect counterpart to Neo’s journey in the original trilogy.
Matrix 5 Doesn’t Have To Be A Prequel – What Else It Can Be About
There Are Countless Options For The Matrix 5
Alternatively,The Matrixcould now focus on a totally different point in the series' timeline. There are countless interesting ideas in thehugely underratedTheAnimatrixmovie, which explores the history of this universe from the perspective of new, standalone characters. This easily could be a source of inspiration forThe Matrix 5. Or, if the writers want to jump into the future instead of the past,The Matrix 5could explore the effects of Neo’s rebellion on human society, using his character as a legacy figure to bind the sequel to the original films.
