Yes, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who’s becoming known for reinterpreting iconic characters onscreen, will be Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections. No, Laurence Fishburne was never asked to return. So unlike the recasting of the Oracle between Reloaded and Revolutions after the first actress died, this recasting clearly had intent behind it. But is it the same Morpheus we know from the previous films? In a conversation with EW, Abdul-Mateen offers cagey answers rife with possibilities.
“I play a character who’s definitely aware of the history of the Matrix [and] the history of Morpheus,” he says. “This character is on a journey of self-discovery.” He adds that “This is definitely a different iteration of the character.”
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But what could that mean, exactly? “What the viewers will come to understand is that there are many rules of the Matrix,” he says. “Age, appearance, the things we identify as real, can be manipulated in that world. The Matrix is where anything is possible.” This suggests we might be dealing with a significantly older or injured Morpheus changing his look to seem younger. Based on EW‘s exclusive images, one thing we also know is he retains the same fashion sense. And he still knows kung fu.
While The Matrix came out in the halcyon pre-9/11 time of 1999 and offered a dark future, Abdul-Mateen suggests the new sequel may do the opposite. “Our film is so much more driven by the hope of what the world can be that it grounds it all in reality,” he concludes.
What do you think is the deal with the new Morpheus? Let us know in comments.
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