Keanu Reeves returns as Neo in first look at 'The Matrix: Resurrections' ahead of first trailer

The first trailer for The Matrix: Resurrections will arrive on Thursday, 9 September, it has been announced.

The news was announced via a pair of cryptic teaser videos that appeared on the sci-fi franchise's longstanding website whatisthematrix.com yesterday.

Reached by clicking on a red pill or a blue pill — an ongoing motif of the series — the videos are peppered with snippets of clips from the fourth film in the franchise, which is due to land in cinemas this Christmas.

Read more: Matrix 4 is 'a love story'

Both clips end with the announcement that the first trailer will arrive tomorrow.

Among the many clips glimpsed is one of Keanu Reeves' Neo — now long-haired and beardy and with more than a passing resemblance to John Wick — striking a martial art pose in front of an unseen enemy.

Along with the clip of Neo fighting, we also see the character stood in front of a mirror that projects a different reflection, which suggests he's hiding behind a new avatar in the Matrix this time around.

In brief, the Matrix is a virtual reality world in which artificial intelligent machines keep human beings enslaved, while harvesting their energy for power.

Elsewhere we get a look at Candyman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in an as-yet-undisclosed role, who appears to be undergoing fight training with Neo in a dojo, much like Reeves' character did in the 1999 original.

Another shows Adbul-Mateen II with a shaved head, which suggests his character gets extracted from the Matrix at some point in the film.

Very little is known about the plot of The Matrix: Resurrections at this stage. It's being directed by Lana Wachowski, who directed the original trilogy alongside her sister Lily Wachowski, wrote a script she co-wrote with Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell, and Aleksandar Hemon.

Original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne Moss both return as Neo and Trinity, with the Bill and Ted star saying in 2020: “We have a wonderful director, Lana Wachowski, and she has written a beautiful script that is a love story. It’s inspiring.

“It’s another version, a call to wake up and it has some great action.”

Game of Thrones star Jessica Henwick says the film promises to push the filmmaking boundaries once again.

Talking to ComicBook.com, Henwick revealed: “Lana is doing some really interesting things on a technical level in the same way that you know, she created a style back then.

“I think she's going to change the industry again with this film. There's some camera rigs that I've never seen before that we're using. That's probably all I can say for that."

One person who isn't returning for the fourth film is Laurence Fishburne. Speaking to New York magazine, he explained that he had 'not been invited' back to play brooding resistance leader Morpheus.

“Maybe that will make me write another play. I wish them well. I hope it’s great,” he added.

The Matrix: Resurrections is coming to cinemas December, 2021.

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