Matrix 5, where are we at?

Almost two years ago, in April 2024, Warner Bros. announced that a fifth film in the Matrix franchise was in development. This was no small undertaking, as it would be the first installment developed without Lana and Lily Wachowski directing. Instead, the studio entrusted the writing, directing, and producing of the film to Drew Goddard, the accomplished screenwriter of The Martian and Hail Mary. On paper, the announcement was certainly intriguing. In reality, radio silence has prevailed ever since. No real progress updates, no concrete advancements made public, to the point that many began to wonder if the project had simply been quietly shelved. However, in his first interviews this week about Hail Mary, Goddard assured Screen Rant that Matrix 5 was still very much alive.

Goddard is not (yet) Michel££££

“The project is still underway. I'm in my writing cave, writing. I don't know how long I'll stay there, but when I come out, I'll have news to share.”

This confirms at least one thing: the project isn't dead. As for the rest, we'll avoid popping the champagne too soon. Goddard is not Michel. While he directed Bad Times at the El Royale and The Cabin in the Woods, his directing career is far from a succession of strokes of genius, but rather a series of respectable films, sometimes clever, never truly unforgettable. There is, however, something to be curious about.

If the project eventually comes to fruition, Sarah Esberg is expected to produce, while Lana Wachowski would serve as executive producer.

Matrix Resurrections, not so profitable? ££££

One major detail remains, and it's a significant one. The franchise made its last appearance on the big screen with Matrix Resurrections in 2021, a return that left a distinctly shaky aftertaste. The film reportedly cost $190 million but only grossed $37 million in North America alone. Suffice it to say that, even in Hollywood, where sequels, remakes, reboots, and other opportunistic resurrections are churned out endlessly, this kind of performance quickly dampens enthusiasm. The industry loves nostalgia, but only when it remains profitable.