‘The Matrix: Resurrections’ Drops Actual Trailer After Mini Teasers, Watch Keanu Predict Our Lives Decades From Now (Again)

Just like that, rubber ducks have made a comeback.

After Warner Bros. launched a retro marketing campaign for The Matrix: Resurrections, through which WhatIsTheMatrix.com visitors could choose between the red pill and blue pill to unlock mini teasers, the film’s first actual trailer dropped Thursday. Bullet time, stunning visuals, and (presumably) revolutionary special effects technology aside, its familiar plot beats are vaguely underwhelming—which may not bode well for our lives decades from now. Check it out below: 

The Wachowskis’ The Matrix was released in theaters at the turn of the 20th century. As Y2K-fearing citizens loaded their bathtubs up with canned goods, Keanu Reeves’ Thomas Anderson/Neo, Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus, and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity introduced audiences to the titular lie—a simulation orchestrated by A.I. to harvest humans for energy. From the fully plausible suggestion that we all live in a simulation and an overreliance on machines to overbearing global surveillance and cyberpunk fashion trends, The Matrix did a pretty could good job of predicting what life would be like in the 21st century. 

Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix: Resurrections sees Reeves’ back in a, not necessarily the Matrix surrounded by people starring at the smartphones and other devices. However, this may be why a seemingly problematic Matrix still exists. Like Reeves’ Mr. Anderson, they’re all addicted to the blue pill and have chosen to forget. The trailer is set to Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” alluding to both Alice in Wonderland and Thomas’ attempt to understand his memories as Neo and take the red pill once again. That being said, doesn’t this all seem a bit too familiar? Is this a sequel, remake, or reboot? 

For the uninitiated, Neo and Trinity died in The Matrix Revolutions. Whoever or whatever Moss and Reeves’ characters actually are in The Matrix: Resurrections have fragmented memories and have yet to be unplugged. On top of that, Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s character seems to be a younger version of Morpheus (time loop?) trying to help He Who May Not Be Neo remember who he is. 

Fishburne insists he wasn’t even asked to be in the film. Still, people lie. 

The Matrix Resurrections will release in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22. These initial teases have told us next to nothing about a film that is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing cinematic fortune cookies in quite some time. Although, it might not be that at all. Audiences may just wind up watching Keanu shake the magic eight ball for two hours, but who’s to say that’s not fun?

Cover Photo: Warner Bros.

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