Laurence Fishburne, renowned for his iconic role as Morpheus in the original The Matrix trilogy, recently discussed his potential return in the anticipated The Matrix 5. Following a mixed reception of his previous “offer”to reprise his role in The Matrix Resurrections, fans are now speculating about his involvement in the upcoming installment. In the original series, Morpheus serves as a crucial mentor and leader in the fight against the machines, guiding Neo (played by Keanu Reeves) on his journey of self-discovery.
During an interview on The View, Fishburne was questioned about his willingness to reprise the Morpheus character for The Matrix 5, which is currently under development. He expressed that his return “depends on the circumstances,”emphasizing factors such as “who is involved,”the quality of the script, and whether he would actually be offered the role. While he had previously expressed interest in participating in The Matrix Resurrections, it seems that his overture was not well received. Fishburne shared:
It depends on the circumstances, who is involved, how well the script has been written, if they offer me… because I offered my services to the fourth Matrix, and they didn’t respond well to that. It’s not like I didn’t say, “Oh, I’d like to offer my services.”I did, and for whatever reason, that didn’t happen, OK? That’s the truth. So we’ll see.
Laurence Fishburne reveals on ‘The View’ that he offered to be in the fourth ‘Matrix’ movie and "they didn’t respond well to that." pic.twitter.com/uTKH5agNl5 — The View (@TheView) April 3, 2025
Implications of Fishburne’s Comments for Morpheus in The Matrix 5
Is a Return Possible?
In April 2024, the news broke that The Matrix 5 is officially in development, with noted writer and director Drew Goddard at the helm. Goddard’s impressive credits include Cloverfield, World War Z, and The Martian, the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. This forthcoming film will mark the first in the franchise not directed or scripted by the Wachowskis, although Lana Wachowski remains as an executive producer.
The specific characters from earlier films that may appear in The Matrix 5 remain uncertain. Warner Bros. executive Jesse Ehrman has indicated that the narrative will evolve the established fantasy universe while honoring the elements that contributed to the franchise’s success. Although Fishburne was not invited back for The Matrix Resurrections, directed by Lana Wachowski, this does not entirely close the door on his re-entry into the franchise, especially considering Drew Goddard’s vision for the new film.
Our Perspective on Fishburne’s Potential Return
The Case for His Return
Laurence Fishburne’s portrayal of Morpheus, alongside Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith, is pivotal to the emotional and narrative fabric of the original trilogy. The absence of both characters in The Matrix Resurrections not only alienated long-time fans but also led to controversy surrounding the introduction of a new iteration of Morpheus through Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s AI program. To restore the franchise’s spirit and core essence, it is essential that The Matrix 5 brings back Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus.
As it stands, no official release date has been set for The Matrix 5.
Source: The View