The Matrix Resurrections has already managed to ignite a wave of online buzz since the release of its initial promotional material. But many fans are wondering if Laurence Fishburne, who previously starred in the Matrix franchise as fan-favorite mentor Morpheus, will be appearing in the upcoming film. Fans may have to wait longer to see if he reappears, but for now, it seems another actor might be playing a new version of the beloved character: Yayha Abdul-Mateen II.
Abdul-Mateen II has been quickly rising through the ranks of Hollywood stardom since his small but substantial roles in The Get Down, Baywatch, and The Greatest Showman. He starred as Black Manta in Aquaman, with his portrayal of the character reappearing in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The actor then won an Emmy award for playing Dr. Manhattan in HBO's critically-acclaimed Watchmen miniseries before starring in the lead role of the recent Candyman remake. The Matrix 4 actor is set to appear in the 2022 Michael Bay thriller Ambulance as well as the next film in the Mad Max franchise.
Abdul-Mateen II took to Instagram to tease his potential role as Morpheus in the upcoming Matrix film. The post features a single still image of his character in what appears to be an action scene, as he's carrying two machine guns while walking in the rain. The character in the image bears a striking resemblance to the Morpheus character made famous by Laurence Fishburne, though it is worth noting that his character is not outright confirmed to be Morpheus, neither by the recent teaser trailer nor by the Instagram post.
In addition to the aforementioned actors, The Matrix Resurrections stars newcomers Christina Ricci, Jonathan Groff, and Iron Fist star Jessica Henwick, with Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt set to reprise her roles as Niobe, Merovingian, and Agent Johnson, respectively. The film was written by director Lana Wachowski (without her sister Lilly Wachowski) along with two co-writers, David Mitchell and Aleksander Hemon, who have both worked with the Wachowski on previous projects including Sense8 and Cloud Atlas.
Abdul-Mateen II is an excellent choice for a role in The Matrix Resurrections regardless of whether or not he's playing Morpheus specifically. The character's perceived connection to Morpheus already spruces up a Matrix franchise that is rife with artistic possibilities. His role in the sequel is just one of many things that is sure to cause excitement among fans during the lead-up to the film's release.
Fans are stoked to see Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Lana Wachowski return to the franchise. However, new faces such as Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra will surely be welcomed additions to the franchise
The Matrix Resurrections comes to theaters and HBO Max on December 22nd, 2021.
Source: Yayha Abdul-Mateen II/Instagram