Mo’ Matrix movies? (scifi movie news).

It appears that the film series that once wowed audiences with its subversive take on reality has now sunk to new depths. Warner Bros. has handed control of the Nebuchadnezzar over to Drew Goddard, a director best known for his earnest, crowd-pleasing fare like The Martian. To put it bluntly, this smacks of a shameless cash grab. After the disappointing box office performance of The Matrix Resurrections, the studio is clearly looking to play it safe with a more conventional approach to the material. Goddard’s involvement is a far cry from the Wachowskis’ subversive sensibilities, and it’s a glaring admission that Warner Bros. has no interest in continuing the series’ proud tradition of mind-bending philosophical sci-fi.

The original Matrix trilogy boldly pointed out the facades and fakery that surround us, challenging viewers to take the red pill and see the truth. Those films weren’t concerned with pleasing anyone – they were about proudly proclaiming their intentions, even the messy and imperfect ones. Now it seems the franchise has traded in its revolutionary zeal for the soulless pursuit of profits.

Goddard’s presence signals a retreat into safe, palatable storytelling – the cinematic equivalent of a blue pill. Gone are the days of bullet-time acrobatics and techno soundtracks. Instead, we’ll likely get some generic action set pieces and a soundtrack full of bland alt-rock. Perhaps most distressingly, the Wachowskis themselves are only peripherally involved this time around. Lana is listed as an executive producer, but one has to wonder how much creative control she’ll actually have. After the bold, transgressive vision of the original trilogy and Lana’s own personal journey, handing the reins to someone like Goddard feels like a betrayal.

There is a slim chance that Goddard will surprise us and craft a Matrix film that’s as intellectually provocative as it is crowd-pleasing, given the series’ history of tackling thorny philosophical questions and queer subtext. But given his track record, most are not holding their breath.

This feels like the beginning of the end for The Matrix as we know it. The franchise that once dared us to question the nature of reality has now succumbed to the harsh realities of the movie business. It’s a depressing sign of the times.