Since it feels like we’ve all been plugged into a giant simulation, here’s a reminder. Last year, news broke that writer Drew Goddard was working on a fifth Matrix movie. “It is not hyperbole to say The Matrix films changed both cinema and my life,” the writer of Cloverfield, Cabin in the Woods, and The Martian said at the time. “Lana and Lilly [Wachowski]’s exquisite artistry inspires me on a daily basis, and I am beyond grateful for the chance to tell stories in their world.”
However, since then, there hasn’t been any news on the sequel. So when io9 sat down with Goddard to talk about his latest film, Project Hail Mary (he adapted Andy Weir’s book into the screenplay), we asked for an update.
“I’m in the cave writing,” he said. “When I come out of the cave, we’ll have news.” That’s, frankly, not much of an update, but it’s to be expected for a project that’s obviously quite secretive. And, frankly, we didn’t think it was enough of an update to mention at all. That is, until we saw a new Neo figure from the team at Hot Toys. Suddenly, we thought, “Whoa. There’s an opportunity.”
So as we all wait for Goddard to finish writing the fifth Matrix film, let’s shift our focus to something more tangible: this stunning new Hot Toys figure of Neo from The Matrix Reloaded. Here are a few images.
Now, we know what you might be thinking. “The Matrix Reloaded kind of stinks. Why would I want Neo from that film?” Well, think about it. Neo doesn’t really become “Neo” until the end of the first Matrix. It’s in Reloaded when he’s really flying with his full powers. So maybe the first Matrix is the better film, but we think this is the definitive version of Neo.
The Matrix Reloaded Neo costs $270 and can be preordered now over at Sideshow Collectibles, which also has a bunch of additional images. It’s not scheduled to arrive until sometime in 2027, but that’s way before we’ll see Goddard’s Matrix, if we see that at all.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.