Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was not exactly playing Morpheus but rather a program created from Neo's experiences whose purpose was to find and guide Neo out of the Matrix once again. In fact, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's character also had a bit of Agent Smith in him as seen in The Matrix Resurrections' opening scene.
Nevertheless, Weaving's feelings on the script weren't the main reason he didn't retake his role as Agent Smith. The real, undramatic reason is that it simply came down to a scheduling conflict, seeing as Weaving was acting in another project when most of the filming for "Resurrections" took place.
The actor said in 2020 that he had “not been invited” to reprise his role (via New York Magazine). The Matrix: Resurrection's story ultimately made sense of the surprising decision to recast Morpheus, but that doesn't necessarily mean leaving out Fishburne was the right move for the film.
Indeed, celebrated names were taken in consideration, and Russell Crowe was at the top. Surprisingly, Crowe turned down the role for better opportunities — A Beautiful Mind, Gladiator, and The Insider — which undoubtedly turned out for the best for him.
Real Morpheus died in the interceding 60 years between M3 and M4. New Morpheus was a creation by Thomas Anderson, somewhat subconsciously, as an attempt to 'create' someone who could be his rescuer like original Morpheus was for him the first time he got unplugged.
The Real Reason Why We Didn't See Old Morpheus In Matrix Resurrections
Will there be a Matrix 5?
The studio has announced plans to continue the franchise, with a fifth Matrix movie now in development. It will be the first installment in the cyber-action film series without either Lana or Lily Wachowski as directors.
Morpheus died in The Matrix Online, a game that is part of the “Matrix Expanded Universe” and is considered Matrix canon. Therefore, Morpheus' death could not be ignored in The Matrix Resurrections. As for Agent Smith, Hugo Weaving could not return for The Matrix Resurrections due to scheduling conflicts.
'The Matrix' wouldn't be the same without Keanu Reeves' Neo, but the role came close to several other actors. In fact, 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star Johnny Depp was directors Lilly and Lana Wachowski's first choice, but he turned it down.
Which actor turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix?
Speaking of The Matrix, Brad Pitt has also expressed regret about turning down the role of Neo. “I took the red pill,” he joked in 2020, referencing the choice in the film between having total clarity or remaining in blissful ignorance.
However, the actor was busy doing a stage play at the time. The two sides entered into negotiations to try to make The Matrix Resurrections' schedule work out so that Weaving could do both projects, but, according to Weaving, Wachowski proved unwilling to accommodate the dates Weaving wanted.
This Morpheus (played by Abdul Mateen II) is actually a program that Thomas/Neo created out of his subconscious for his popular video game, both new and old; new in that he isn't a human being but a manmade code, and old in that he's a curious amalgamation of the real Morpheus (Fishburne) and Smith (Weaving).
Lana Wachowski delivers a surprisingly meta, self-aware movie about the original trilogy packed with bold, fascinating ideas but an absolutely terrible execution.
After setting off one of the code bombs, Morpheus was ambushed by the Assassin, a program created by Machines, and killed. Some players at the time theorized that Morpheus might have faked his death and gone into hiding, but this theory remained unresolved at the time of The Matrix Online's cancelation in 2009.
Summary. Hugo Weaving left the Transformers franchise after voicing Megatron in the first three movies, calling the role "meaningless" and criticizing the lack of artistic fulfillment.
It was someone else's,” he explained. After Pitt turned down the role, Leonardo DiCaprio accepted the role before stepping away because he felt hesitant to star in a visual-effects-laden blockbuster straight after Titanic.
Keanu Reeves was the filmmakers' second choice, as the role was initially also offered to stars like Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nic Cage, Val Kilmer, and Brad Pitt, and the majority turned it down because they didn't understand the script. But it wasn't the reason for Depp.
The name Morpheus itself suggests the Greek god of dreams, whose name literally means “he who forms.” The god Morpheus has the ability to change his own shape and manipulate reality, as well as the power to bewitch other people's minds with dreams and fantasies.
Why isn't Laurence Fishburne returning as Morpheus in the new Matrix film? Laurence Fishburne said in an interview that he was not asked to reprise his role as Morpheus in the next Matrix movie. Since it's a prequel, the writers seemed to not have him in mind for the movie.
Sensing the power in Neo and Trinity's connection, he persuaded his machine bosses to let him take their bodies. The Analyst then resurrected them using resurrection pods created by Sati's parents and plugged Neo and Trinity back into the Matrix, using them as a source code to build a new iteration.
Parents need to know that The Matrix Resurrections is the long-awaited (but underwhelming) fourth Matrix movie, the first since 2003's The Matrix Revolutions. Expect effects-heavy action violence, including lots of guns and shooting; fighting, kicking, and punching; bloody wounds (a throat…
Warner Bros. announced Wednesday the fifth installment of its flagship cyberpunk movie franchise “The Matrix” is in development, years after the last movie in the franchise, “The Matrix Resurrections” released to mixed reviews and poor numbers at the box office.
