There’s no denying that The Matrix ranks among the most influential sci-fi movies ever made, but many fans have soured on the franchise following a series of ambitious sequels that took bold swings that didn’t always pay off. The first of these was The Matrix Reloaded, which completely rewrote the timeline of The Matrix and changed the entire meaning behind the original film. Consequently, this sequel was met with extremely mixed reviews upon reception, and none of the subsequent entries have managed to quite live up to the original movie.

There are several reasons why The Matrix Reloaded isn’t considered as good as the first movie, but those who aren’t too interested in the lore of The Matrix can still find things to enjoy in the sequel. It’s filled with excellent action sequences, features some strong character work, and has the most stylish visuals of the original trilogy. There’s just one scene that holds Reloaded back from being among the best Matrix movies.

The Architect Scene In Matrix Reloaded Made The Franchise A Lot More Complicated

This Twist Revealed Everything About The First Movie To Be Different

The ending of The Matrix Reloaded offers the game-changing revelation that Keanu Reeves’ Neo was never intended to be “The One,” as the Oracle (Gloria Foster/Mary Alice) told him. Instead, he’s just the latest version of “The One,” with each previous iteration given the same choice to end the Matrix and deciding not to. Neo has no memory of these previous lives, which gives Reloaded some very interesting commentary on human autonomy and the illusion of free will.

Unfortunately, the twist also changes The Matrix‘s ending by establishing that Neo isn’t as special as he once thought. He’s not The One in any kind of prophetic way, but simply a feature of the Matrix that exists to offer the illusion of choice to its inhabitants. This decision completely reroutes Neo’s journey through the subsequent sequels, and many fans were betrayed by the idea that The Matrix is now essentially “wrong.”

The Matrix Reloaded Accidentally Set Up The Perfect Way To Reboot The Matrix Movies

There’s A Very Obvious Way To “Reboot” The Matrix

Since the release of The Matrix Resurrections, this franchise’s reboot status has been up in the air. The sequels have proven extremely divisive, and while there’s some genuinely intuitive storytelling in the later movies, they aren’t what the longtime fans are looking for. Additionally, Neo’s story is seemingly wrapped up in Resurrections, so it wouldn’t make sense for The Matrix 5 to return to his character. The most logical way of continuing this franchise is through a proper reboot or spinoff.

Luckily, the very concept of the Matrix has a built-in reboot function, as explained by The Architect (Helmut Bakaitis) in The Matrix Reloaded. Instead of continuing into the future, the next movie could be some kind of prequel that explains one of the Matrix’s previous cycles — before Neo and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) managed to break free in The Matrix Revolutions.

Matrix 5 Can Explore One Of The Previous Versions Of The Matrix (Without Neo)

This Means That Keanu Reeves Wouldn’t Have To Return

Importantly, Neo was not The One in every previous cycle of the Matrix. Although this is what The Matrix Reloaded seems to suggest by displaying Neo’s face on all the computers in The Architect’s room, this is merely a stylistic choice to illustrate how Neo’s role is essentially the same as the previous incarnations, even if they’re not the same person.

This makes the possibility of a “rebooted” Matrix prequel even more plausible, as it would follow a completely different character from Neo, opening up the possibility of a dynamic new cast. The story could focus on what led this previous version of The One to decide against ending the Matrix, serving as the perfect counterpart to Neo’s journey in the original trilogy.

Matrix 5 Doesn’t Have To Be A Prequel – What Else It Can Be About

There Are Countless Options For The Matrix 5

Alternatively, The Matrix could now focus on a totally different point in the series’ timeline. There are countless interesting ideas in the hugely underrated The Animatrix movie, which explores the history of this universe from the perspective of new, standalone characters. This easily could be a source of inspiration for The Matrix 5. Or, if the writers want to jump into the future instead of the past, The Matrix 5 could explore the effects of Neo’s rebellion on human society, using his character as a legacy figure to bind the sequel to the original films.

The Matrix

Movie(s)

The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections, The Matrix 5

First Film

The Matrix

Cast

Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Jada Pinkett Smith, Monica Bellucci, Lambert Wilson, Harold Perrineau, Gina Torres, Collin Chou, Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Video Game(s)

Enter the Matrix (2003), The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005), The Matrix Online (2005)

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