The fifth Matrix film in production, directed by The Martian writer

Warner announced that the fifth "Matrix" movie is in production, with Drew Goddard, the screenwriter of "The Martian" and "The Cabin in the Woods", as the director and screenwriter.

This will be the first "Matrix" movie not directed by Lana Wachowski sisters, but Lana Wachowski will still serve as executive producer. Warner Bros.' announcement today did not reveal any news about the return of leading actors such as Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann Moss, nor did it disclose any details about the plot.

“Drew brought a compelling new concept to the table that we all believed would be a great way to continue the universe of The Matrix, honoring the story that Lana and Lily pioneered 25 years ago while also bringing a new perspective to the story based on Drew’s love for the series and his unique take on the characters,” said Jesse Ehrman, president of production at Warner Bros. Pictures, in a statement. “The entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery is excited that Drew Goddard will be directing this new film, adding a new vision to the classic franchise that the Wachowskis have spent 25 years building at the studio.”

Drew added: “It’s no exaggeration to say that The Matrix films not only changed the film industry, but also changed my life. Lana and Lily’s extraordinary artistry continues to inspire me, and I feel incredibly honored to have the opportunity to tell stories in the world they created.”

Although Warner Bros. has continued to express strong interest in making a sequel, the Wachowski sisters have always been cautious about restarting the series. Nearly 20 years later, the series has just launched the fourth work "The Matrix 4: Reboot", which will be released in 2021. The film is directed independently by Lana Wachowski and is the first Matrix movie not created by the sisters.

The Matrix 4: Reboot received mixed reviews and its box office performance did not meet expectations. It was reported that the film cost as much as $190 million to produce, but the global box office was only $159.2 million. It is worth noting that the film was released during the global theater closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the film adopted the controversial "theater-network simultaneous" distribution model launched by Warner Bros. at the time, and the other streaming platform was still called HBO Max at the time (now renamed Max).