Matrix 5 is officially in the works with original director Lana Wachowski on board to executive produce – but there is no word yet on whether Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as Neo. 

Warner Bros. have hired Drew Goddard to direct the film, who previously wrote the screenplay for The Martian, Variety reports. 

It will be the first installment in the Matrix universe without Lana or Lilly Wachowski as directors. Goddard is also set to write the script and produce the project with his partner Sarah Esberg. 

Lana Wachowski directed the most recent installment in 2021 with The Matrix: Resurrections – starring Reeves, and Carrie-Anne Moss and Trinity. 

It also featured actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. 

Information about casting for the upcoming feature is currently being kept under wraps. 

Warner Bros. Motion Pictures’ president of production, Jesse Ehrman, provided a statement in order to show the studio’s support for Goddard.

‘Drew came to Warner Bros. with a new idea that we all believe would be an incredible way to continue the Matrix world, by both honoring what Lana and Lilly began over 25 years ago and offering a unique perspective based on his own love of the series and characters,’ he said.

Ehrman continued: ‘The entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery is thrilled for Drew to be making this new Matrix film, adding his vision to the cinematic canon the Wachowskis’ spent a quarter of a century building here at the studio.’ 

Goddard issued a statement of his own to speak about his admiration for the works of the Wachowskis and to show his enthusiasm about being able to work within the franchise.

‘It is not hyperbole to say The Matrix films changed both cinema and my life. Lana and Lilly’s exquisite artistry inspires me on a daily basis, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to tell stories in their world,’ he stated.

The Matrix franchise is centered on Thomas Anderson, also known as Neo, who leads an armed resistance of humans against self-aware machines and artificial intelligence programs.

The first Matrix film premiered in 1999, while its two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, were both released in 2003.

Several members of the first film’s creative team won a total of four Academy Awards for their work on the project.

The fourth film in the franchise, The Matrix Resurrections, made its debut 18 years after the release of The Matrix Revolutions.

While only Lana Wachowski was involved with the project, Lilly gave her blessing to the feature’s team to continue with the film.

The Matrix Resurrections received mixed to positive reviews from critics, and it grossed just over $157.3 million at the box office.