Warner Bros. just announced the release date for the long-awaited Matrix sequel, and it’s… an interesting choice.
Due out on May 21, 2021, The Matrix 4 co-stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. Neo is arguably Keanu Reeves’ most iconic role alongside John Wick and Ted from Bill & Ted, which brings us to why The Matrix 4‘s release date is such a bold choice. It’s the same day John Wick: Chapter 4 comes out, also starring Keanu Reeves.
As Hollywood studios focus more and more attention on blockbuster franchises, there’s a lot of competition over release dates. In particular, Disney and Warner Bros. have to pin down release dates for Marvel and DC movies years in advance, hoping not to clash with other superhero releases that might poach their audience. Generally, we don’t see two overlapping blockbusters out in the same week, which makes this whole Keanu Reeves situation especially wild. Not only do these movies attract an obvious crossover audience thanks to their status as A-list action franchises, but they literally star the same lead actor.
There are also longstanding ties between the creative teams for the two movies, since John Wick director Chad Stahelski started out as a stunt performer and coordinator on several Wachowski movies including the Matrix trilogy. The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne also has a key role in the John Wick series.
Directed by Lana Wachowski (who co-wrote the script with her former Sense8 collaborators David Mitchell and Aleksander Hemon), The Matrix 4 will co-star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, and Sense8′s Toby Onwumere.
It’s possible that one of the two studios will shift their film’s release date to avoid the clash, and since these movies aren’t out until 2021, they have plenty of time to do so. But in the meantime, many Keanu fans will already be planning the best double-bill of their lives.
