Dear Writers: THE (thematic) PLOT OF THE MATRIX 4 REVEALED!

I can’t tell you the exact plot of The Matrix: Resurrections, but I can still spoil the story.

It’ll be a far more literal retelling of Matrix 1 than you think. And I don’t just mean the mirrored imagery that makes the trailer resonate so powerfully.

We will start the movie learning just what Neo’s/Mr. Anderson’s assumed reality is like. What are the apparent rules? What do they already suspect is a lie? Are they brave enough to face it?

This will in itself feel subversive — even though it’s literally just repeating the arc of the first Matrix movie. Why will this feel surprising (but inevitable)? Because we already spent three movies establishing Neo as the ultimate badass. They even have powers in the real world! Our intuitions tell us Neo simply cannot return to that un-woke state.

In this sense, to start this movie with Neo somehow diminished is in a sense its own resurrection, a way to retell the story again with a new story that nevertheless feels intimately familiar.

Neo will STRUGGLE with whether to face the obstacles and people holding them in this prison. They will fail to escape at least once (see this article on why they MUST fail to later succeed).

When Neo finally does escape, the truth of what is “real” will stun them and the audience. Idk what this will be, but I expect it to be as brilliant a reveal as in the first movie.

Neo will begin their true journey to remember their true identity. Their true worth. Their true power. Neo willfail a bunch of times at this, too.

And here’s the twist that will stun audiences (except us). Neo will come back into awareness that they are The One. They have ALWAYS been Neo. They must now reclaim that identity to save everyone. Except…!!!

Just like that big mic drop moment in Matrix 1 when the Oracle revealed that whoever Neo/Mr. Anderson is, they are NOT this much-prophesied The One, we will discover that this new Neo is someone or something else.

Oh no! All is Lost! But wait…remember the first movie? Yeah, Neo will discover that they aren’t who they thought they(and the audience) thought Neo was, but that doesn’t matter. Just as in the original, not being THE One doesn’t matter. You can still make a difference.

Neo’s decision to claim their true identity regardless of anyone else’s expectations (remember that The Matrix franchise is a trans narrative by trans storytellers) is what finally manifests their true power.

Is this Neo the One we expected? No, but they are the One we needed. A spontaneously repeating algorithm. Our silent screen protector. A dark (slightly green) knight.