It's been clear for a while now that Laurence Fishburne won't be part of The Matrix 4, though that hasn't stopped many fans from hoping the actor might be added to the movie at the last minute.
Well, that doesn't appear to be the case, and in a recent interview, the actor reiterated that he's not returning as Morpheus...and that no one has told him why. "I completely understand that, that makes sense," Fishburne responded when asked how he feels about continuously being asked about reprising the role. "It would make sense that people ask me that."
He added: "I am not in the next Matrix movie and you'd have to ask Lana Wachowski why, 'cause I don't have an answer for that."
It's crazy to think that Lana Wachowski decided against bringing Fishburne back, but if rumours are to be believed, Aquaman's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is going to playing a younger version of Morpheus. That could explain why the original isn't needed, though it is a shock that he hasn't even been asked to come back for a cameo appearance of some sort (unless that's being kept a secret).
The confirmed cast members for The Matrix 4 include Keanu Reeves as Neo, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe, and new additions Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, Telma Hopkins, Eréndira Ibarra, Toby Onwumere, Max Riemelt, Christina Ricci, and Brian J. Smith. Daniel Bernhardt and Lambert Wilson are also expected to appear.
The Matrix 4 is set to be released in theaters and on HBO Max on December 22, 2021.