Hugo Weaving explained why he won’t be reprising his role as Agent Smith opposite Keanu Reeves in The Matrix 4.
Director Lana Wachowski is set to return to The Matrix franchise with a fourth entry in the film series, which will see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their respective roles as Neo and Trinity. However, it appears Hugo Weaving won’t be reprising his iconic role as the antagonistic Agent Smith in The Matrix 4, although there were initially plans to include him in the Keanu Reeves film.
During an interview with Time Out, Hugo Weaving revealed that he did receive an offer to return for The Matrix 4 but it took several weeks to work out a schedule that wouldn’t conflict with a separate project he was offered earlier. According to Hugo Weaving, director Lana Wachowski decided the dates they selected wouldn’t work and opted not to include Agent Smith in The Matrix 4:
“‘The Matrix’ is a very different story. It’s unfortunate but actually I had this offer [for “The Visit”] and then the offer came from “The Matrix”, so I knew it was happening but I didn’t have dates. I thought [I] could do both and it took eight weeks to work out that the dates would work – I held off on accepting [a role in “The Visit” during that time]. I was in touch with [director] Lana Wachowski, but in the end she decided that the dates weren’t going to work. So we’d sorted the dates and then she sort of changed her mind. They’re pushing on ahead without me.”
Are you disappointed to hear Hugo Weaving won’t get to play Agent Smith again? Where does Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith rank on your list of movie villains? Would you have enjoyed seeing Hugo Weaving and Keanu Reeves face off again? Let us know your thoughts on Hugo Weaving and The Matrix 4 below!
The Matrix and its two sequels collectively earned a total of $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss portrayed Neo and Trinity, respectively, in all three chapters of the Matrix film series, each of which were directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski.
Directed by Lana Wachowski from a script she co-wrote with Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchel, The Matrix 4 stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Toby Onwumere, Eréndira Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jessica Henwick. Production on Keanu Reeves’ The Matrix 4 is reportedly eyeing an early 2020 start date with Lana Wachowski also serving as a producer alongside Grant Hill.
The Matrix 4 is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 21, 2021.
Source: Time Out