The experience of John Wick has seemingly given Keanu Reeves a license to enjoy himself again. Talking sequels, remakes and spinoffs while on the press circuit. Following on from the news that a brand new buddy comedy Bill & Ted 3 has a screenplay and is in the works, the 52-year old refused to close the door on the franchise he is arguably most synonymous with - The Matrix.
Whilst the 1999 original is considered a landmark for the action/science-fiction genre at large, the subsequent installments in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions ultimately fell flat with fans. As they were released only 6 months apart in 2003. So is a revival possible for the series?
Stories Live Long After We're Gone: Keanu
Comfortably hitting over the $1b mark for all three movies, the writing/directing duo of Lana and Lilly Wachowski took The Matrix to incredible heights. In the event that Reeves would come aboard a new project to reprise his role as Neo aka the savior of mankind, he argues that the pair would have to be involved for him to even entertain the notion.
"The Wachowskis (Lana and Lilly) would have to be involved," proclaimed Reeves. "They would have to write it and direct it. And then we’d see what the story is, but yeah, I dunno, that’d be weird, but why not? People die, stories don’t, people in stories don’t."
JW3 Should Be Inspired By Kurt Russell Thriller
As if to steal a page from the Kurt Russell playbook of the 1981 action thriller Escape from New York, Reeves is already entertaining the idea of another sequel for his favorite character. All while the second installment continues to play in movie theaters. The Russell picture was a huge hit in the day, going on to reprise his role as Snake Plissken 15 years later in 1996's Escape from L.A.
"I think the opening of the film should be Wick just trying to escape from New York. Literally trying to get off the island," he outlines. "Maybe he asks (Lawrence Fisburne’s character) the Bowery King for help. Maybe John Leguizamo comes and helps me out. 'John, I can’t do it, you’re excommunicado!' Maybe the High Table shows up. And then the High Table starts firing guns. And then maybe this kind of thing starts to happen between the High Table and Continental? Maybe John is the activator of this confrontation, and perhaps there’s a war? Wouldn’t that be awesome?!"
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