Matrix 4: How Laurence Fishburne Could Appear (Despite Morpheus Recast)

Morpheus has been recast in The Matrix Resurrections with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II replacing Laurence Fishburne, but that doesn’t mean he can’t appear.

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Laurence Fishburne isn’t playing Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections, with the role officially recast, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still appear. The Matrix 4 is bringing back characters and actors from the original trilogy, most notably Keanu Reeves as Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity. Morpheus was the third part of that central triumvirate of heroes who fought back against the Machines, and while he will appear once again in Resurrections, he won’t be played by Fishburne.

Instead, as had been rumored ever since his casting was announced, Yahya Abduel-Mateen II is playing Morpheus in The Matrix 4. The exact reasons for this haven’t been revealed; Fishburne has simply said previously that he wasn’t asked to come back and has denied any involvement. That suggests there’s a key story reason for the recast, likely necessitated by the need to see a young Morpheus in the movie, which stands in contrast to Neo and Trinity’s returns. Still, even with young Morpheus appearing, does that – and the actor’s own comments – fully rule out a role for Fishburne?

There are a couple of ways Fishburne could still appear in The Matrix Resurrections, even if it’s just for a small, crowd-pleasing cameo, and despite him saying otherwise (which is par for the course with such movie surprises). Abdul-Mateen II is playing Morpheus, but what’s not clear is whether this is the same version viewers saw in the original trilogy, or a new take to fit with an apparent new cycle of the Matrix. Similarly, there’s also a fair question of just when this Morpheus exists, and how his Matrix timeline coincides with Neo’s. On both fronts, there’s a possibility to engineer it so that Fishburne’s Morpheus technically still exists, either as a previous version who could be restored and brought back – because little ever seems to be truly dead or deleted in the Matrix – or that the movie will be utilizing time travel in some way, opening the door for his Morpheus to be the present day or more “real” version of the character.

It seems clear that Abdul-Mateen is very much taking on the same role Morpheus had in the original movie, as he gives Neo the red pill and trains with him at the dojo, bringing out the powers of The One. But there may be more to it: one shot in the first The Matrix 4 trailer has him dressed as an Agent, and another has him looking in a mirror, surprised to see it ripple when he touches it, implying that there’ll be at least a small part of his origin and seeing Morpheus before he was freed from the Machines. If that is the case, then the look into his past could also mean a glimpse of his future, perhaps revealing what has happened to the older Morpheus and why he isn’t back alongside Trinity and Neo.

Of course, Fishburne could also return in a small role as a different character, because the nature of the Matrix would allow for that to happen. That would give him a part without stepping on Abdul-Mateen’s toes as Morpheus, though may also be too confusing for viewers or simply underwhelming, because to many Fishburne is Morpheus. There’s no question that Abdul-Mateen is an ideal choice to play a young Morpheus, and it’s exciting to think of what he’ll bring to the role. Similarly, there’s no suggestion of a Fishburne return, though it cannot be ruled out either. To see Fishburne back, even just for a moment, could help seal the feeling of the Matrix franchise truly being alive again and give his take on the character a proper send-off, while still having room for The Matrix Resurrections to pass the baton on as well.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/matrix-resurrections-morpheus-laurence-fishburne-return-theories/