‘The Matrix 4’: Jonathan Groff Joins Keanu Reeves And Carrie-Anne Moss In Lana Wachowski’s Sequel
Jonathan Groff, who stars in the Netflix seriesMindhunterand voices the character of Kristoff in Disney’sFrozenfilms, is the latest actor to plug in to the newestMatrixsequel.
Groff has reportedly signed on to appear inLana Wachowski’sThe Matrix 4, joining a cast that already includes returning veteransKeanu Reeves,Carrie-Anne Moss, andJada Pinkett-Smithas well as franchise newcomersNeil Patrick Harris(How I Met Your Mother),Yahya Abdul-Mateen II(Aquaman,Watchmen) andJessica Henwick(Game of Thrones,Iron Fist). Welcome to the desert of the real, Mr. Groff.
According toCollider, Groff has already signed on toThe Matrix 4, although his role is still being kept a secret at this time. With his musical theater background, Groff seems like a perfect fit for a peppy Disney animation character, but he’s also proven he can handle subtler, quieter, darker material as the lead inMindhunter, David Fincher’s serial killer drama on Netflix. I’m not sure if I’d fully buy him in full-on action star mode in a newMatrixmovie, but I could easily see him inject a hint of personality into an otherwise straight-faced agent or as a friendly, affable part of the human resistance (maybe akin to someone like Tank in the original film).
Collider points out that Lana Wachowski is committed to bringing together “a diverse, inclusive cast” in this sequel, and Groff marks the second openly gay actor in the project (the other is Neil Patrick Harris). Despite developing the franchise together, Lana Wachowski is not working with her sister Lilly on this sequel – Lanawill direct this one solo, while co-writing withAleksander Hemon(an actor on the Wachowskis' Netflix seriesSense8) andDavid Mitchell(the author who wrote the ambitious novelCloud Atlas, which Lana, Lilly, and German filmmaker Tom Tykwer adapted into an equally ambitious movie back in 2012). Original concept artistsGeof DarrowandSteve Skroceare returning, but the franchise’s longtime cinematographer, Bill Pope, is not coming back. Instead,he’ll be replaced byOscar winnerJohn Toll, who won Oscars for his work onLegends of the FallandBraveheartand who has worked closely with the Wachowskis for several years. He shotCloud AtlasandJupiter Ascendingfor them, along with every single episode ofSense8.
Production is slated to start in early2020, so I expect this to make its way into theaters sometime in2021.
