The official release date for the highly anticipated “The Matrix 4” has been announced—and it happens to fall on the same day as the fourth installment of “John Wick.”
Warner Bros. announced that “The Matrix 4” sci-fi sequel, starring Keanu Reeves, 55, will be released on May 21, 2021—the same day as Lionsgate’s “John Wick: Chapter 4,” which also stars Reeves.
The film studio reportedly knocked its sci-fi live-action version of the classic anime film “Akira” off its schedule, giving its release spot to the fourth installment of “The Matrix.”
Filming for upcoming movie—the first in the Matrix universe in 16 years—is expected to begin in early 2020, with original stars Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett-Smith returning to the cast, joined by “How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris, “Frozen 2” actor Jonathan Groff, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, one of the stars of “Aquaman” and HBO’s “Watchmen.”
Reeves will be reprising his role as Neo and Moss will return as Trinity.
Much to the delight of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman, Toby Emmerich, “The Matrix 4” will be directed, written, and produced by Lana Wachowski, who directed the original Matrix trilogy with her sister Lilly.
“Lana is a true visionary—a singular and original creative filmmaker—and we are thrilled that she is writing, directing, and producing this new chapter in the Matrix universe.”
“Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now,” Wachowski told Variety. ”I’m very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends.”
Excited fans have flocked to Twitter to suggest the movie’s release date be named “Keanu Reeves Day.”
“May 21, 2021 is officially Keanu Reeves day,” one person wrote.
Another said: “With ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ and ‘The Matrix 4’ sharing a release date, motion to make May 21, 2020 a national Keanu Reeves holiday.”
“Both ‘John Wick 4’ and ‘The Matrix 4’ are due to come out on May 21st, 2021. We should just make May 21st Keanu day from here out,” one user added.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight in September, Reeves said he was “absolutely” excited for the next installment of “The Matrix.”
“It’s very ambitious,” he teased. “As it should be!”
The first film hit theaters 20 years ago and spawned two sequels that cumulatively made more than $1.6 billion at the global box office.
