This Aquaman actor had better get his hands on a shiny leather jacket and a latex jumpsuit
he's going to need 'em for The Matrix 4.
The announcement of a new addition to the Matrix franchise, directed and co-written
by series originator Lana Wachowski, essentially blindsided the film world in August 2019.
Even more exciting than the confirmation that Wachowski was set to helm The Matrix 4 was
news that original stars Carrie-Ann Moss and Keanu Reeves would return to their iconic
roles as Trinity and Neo.
Little news regarding The Matrix 4 came out in the time since those announcements, but
now, it appears a new-to-the-franchise face will join Moss' Trinity and Reeves' Neo in
their fight against the Matrix.
That face belongs to Aquaman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen, who played the villainous David Kane — better
known as Black Manta — in the Jason Momoa-led superhero flick.
"Call me…
Black Manta!"
Variety was the first to break the news that Abdul-Mateen is circling a role in The Matrix
4.
If the outlet's reporting proves accurate, Abdul-Mateen's role won't merely be as a supporting
player to his iconic co-stars.
Wachowski and The Matrix 4 producers have reportedly spent some time in recent weeks
meeting with several actors over what's being called a "secret role" in the upcoming film.
While the exact nature of the character remains a secret, we know that it's being referred
to as a lead role, and that Abdul-Mateen has emerged from the recent casting talks as the
frontrunner to land the part.
Though it's unclear who Abdul-Mateen will play in the The Matrix 4, news of his potential
casting in the film should be met with cheers from fans of the Matrix franchise and of the
actor himself, who has become one of the brightest young stars in Hollywood in recent years.
Abdul-Mateen is likely best known for his turn as Manta in last year's unexpected blockbuster
Aquaman, but he's also delivered more-than-memorable performances on Baz Luhrmann's musical series
The Get Down, in the Hugh Jackman-led circus musical The Greatest Showman, and on Hulu's
breakout series The Handmaid's Tale.
"So, are you brave, or… stupid?"
"I'm not brave, so… there you go."
Recently, Abdul-Mateen appeared in Jordan' Peele's bone-chilling horror confection Us,
and on the "Striking Vipers" episode of Black Mirror season 5.
He'll next be seen on HBO's Watchmen series, in Peele's Candyman remake, and as Black Panther
Party co-founder Bobby Seale in Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7.
So yeah, if you're not overly familiar with Yahya Abdul-Mateen's face, you can rest assured
that he'll be bringing some serious cred to whatever role he plays in Wachowski's new
Matrix film.
Unfortunately, it will probably be quite some time before we find out who Abdul-Mateen will
play in The Matrix 4, as Wachowski and the Warner Bros. team will likely want to keep
a very tight lid on plot and character details which means we really have no idea what's
in store for The Matrix 4, and even less of a clue how Abdul-Mateen's character will factor
into the action.
Still, it will be interesting to see what Wachowski does with the new film the first
movie she's directing without the help of sister Lilly.
Wachowski has enlisted a little help from her friends in crafting The Matrix 4's secretive
narrative.
Those friends include Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell and screenwriter Aleksander Hemon,
both of whom contributed work to the Wachowskis' beloved Netflix series Sense 8.
While we know virtually nothing about what the trio has done with The Matrix 4's script,
Reeves recently told Entertainment Tonight that the story is, quote, "very ambitious,
as it should be."
That tease should be more than enough to get any Matrix fan hyped about what's ahead for
Trinity and Neo and now Abdul-Mateen's mystery character even if we do have a couple of years
before we find out what will happen in the film.
The Matrix 4 is scheduled to go before cameras in 2020, with an undisclosed release date
slated for sometime in 2022.
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