‘It changed my life’: Keanu Reeves reflects on The Matrix 25 years later

Keanu Reeves says ‘The Matrix’ “changed [his] life”.

The 59-year-old actor starred as Thomas Anderson/Neo in the hit sci-fi trilogy – which ran from 1999 to 2003, as well as the legacy sequel ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ – and has now reflected on how the first flick shaped his Hollywood career and left its mark on fans in a retrospective look at the film for its 25th anniversary.

During an appearance on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, Keanu said: “‘The Matrix’ changed my life. And then, over these years, it’s changed so many other people’s lives in really positive and great ways.

“As an artist, you hope for that when you get to do a film or tell a story. And so when you say these years and the amount of people I’ve met who have said to me and been touched by ‘The Matrix’ in such a positive way … it’s the best.”

After completing the first three entries, Reeves took a break from the franchise, before reprising his role as ‘The One’ for 2021’s ‘Resurrections’.

Despite the blockbuster’s less-than-stellar performance at the box office and failing to impress the critics, Warner Bros. announced earlier this year that a fifth installment in the series was in development.

Although it has not yet been confirmed, it is almost certain the ‘John Wick’ star and Carrie-Anne Moss will be returning as Neo and Trinity respectively.

Meanwhile, ’The Martian’ filmmaker Drew Goddard was announced to be helming the flick – making the upcoming movie the first project in the series not to be directed by either of the franchise’s creators Lana or Lilly Wachowski – although the latter will be involved as an executive producer.

Plot details are yet to be revealed, but Warner Bros. Motion Pictures boss Jesse Ehrman has said the story will progress the fantasy world without straying from the franchise’s unique identity.

In a statement, Ehrman said: “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 honouring what Lana and Lilly began over 25 years ago and offering a unique perspective based on his own love of the series and characters.

“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.”