The Matrix 4 Will Miss A Key Cast Member From The Original Movies

The cast list for the upcoming fourth movie in The Matrix series has grown over the past few months and has some big names returning from the originals, including stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss. But The Matrix 4 sadly won't feature one key actor from the first three films. Hugo Weaving has confirmed that, despite an attempt to do so, he will not reprise his role as Agent Smith, the main antagonist of the original trilogy.

In an interview with Time Out, Weaving reveals that he was approached by director Lana Wachowski to appear in The Matrix 4, but a scheduling conflict with his role in the stage play The Visit in London made it impossible. "It's unfortunate but actually I had this offer [for The Visit] and then the offer came from The Matrix," he explained. "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]. I was in touch with 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."

While this is disappointing news for fans, the cast list for The Matrix 4 so far is still very exciting. Reeves and Moss will return as Neo and Trinity, with Jada Pinkett Smith also reprising her role as Niobe. The new cast members include Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), and Jessica Henwick (Iron Fist). The movie hit theaters on May 21, 2021--which is also the release date for another Reeves-starring action sequel, John Wick: Chapter 4.

Wachowski helmed the previous three Matrix movies with sister Lilly. The first Matrix movie brought in $463.5 million worldwide, and it spawned two sequels: 2003's Matrix Reloaded--grossing $742.1 million worldwide--and Matrix Revolutions--taking in $427.3 million worldwide. For more, check out The Matrix Sequels' 34 Dumbest Moments to relive the weirdness.