“The Matrix Resurrections” is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max, but it’s far from a straightforward sequel. Fans have been clamoring for “The Matrix 4” for years since the original groundbreaking trilogy, but director and co-writer Lana Wachowski returned with a follow-up that literally resurrects Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) while also upending pretty much every expectation fans might have.
Below, we have a spoilery cast and character guide to the ensemble, explaining who each character is and how they fit into this meta narrative.
Warning: Spoilers for “The Matrix Resurrections” follow below.
Keanu Reeves as Neo aka Thomas Anderson
After sacrificing himself in “The Matrix Revolutions,” Neo has been literally rebuilt by a program called The Analyst, who now uses Neo as a battery cordoned off in his own mini-Matrix. In this world, Neo is Thomas Anderson, a video game designer who created a game trilogy called The Matrix. He is convinced that the events of “The Matrix” trilogy didn’t actually happen, but were actually just a video game he created.
Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity aka Tiffany
Alongside Neo in this mini-Matrix is Trinity, who has also been resurrected following her death. The Analyst discovered that the yearning that Neo and Trinity have for one another results in immense power (remember, in the real world the machines use humans a batteries), and so she’s plopped into this mini-Matrix as a woman named Tiffany who’s an acquaintance of Thomas Anderson’s but is married with children.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Morpheus
Morpheus returns in “The Matrix Resurrections,” but not like you’ve seen him before. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II fills the role this time around, who’s actually a program that Thomas Anderson created and put inside a little modal in his game simulation. This Morpheus is a combination of Morpheus and Agent Smith (or Neo’s memories of them), but once broken out of his modal he brushes up on the history of Morpheus and Neo and helps Neo in his quest.
Jessica Henwick as Bugs
A new human character named Bugs is central to “The Matrix Resurrections.” She’s a student of history and captain of her own ship, and she’s the one who helps bust Morpheus and then Neo out of their Matrix lives.
Jonathan Groff as Smith
Just as Neo was resurrected, memory-wiped and isolated in a Matrix program, so was Agent Smith, who is played in this film by Jonathan Groff. Smith has bene positioned as Thomas Anderson’s business partner and is reskinned as Groff (which is why Hugo Weaving didn’t return), but he eventually awakes and remembers who he is.
Neil Patrick Harris as The Analyst
The primary antagonist of “The Matrix Resurrections” is The Analyst, the creator of the current iteration of the Matrix and the machine who took over from The Architect from the trilogy. He keeps a close eye on Neo posing as his therapist inside the Matrix.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Sati
Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays the adult version of Sati, the young exiled program that Neo befriended in “The Matrix Reloaded.” Her father helped build the machine that keeps Neo alive in the real world.
Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe
Jada Pinkett Smith is the only human character to return from the original trilogy, as Niobe has now aged 60 years and is the leader of a flourishing community called Io. She opposes the rescue of Neo for fear of inciting another war with the machines.
