When fans check out the upcoming film “The Matrix 4,” they won’t see Laurence Fishburne, who played Morpheus in the first three movies. But the actor’s absence in the film isn’t the result of a personal decision. Fishburne said he wasn’t asked to return.
“I have not been invited,” Fishburne told New York Magazine in a newly published interview. “Maybe that will make me write another play. I’m looking for the blessing in that. I wish them well. I hope it’s great.”
The seemingly all-wise Morpheus was captain of his hovercraft, the Nebuchadnezzar, and was a part of his city’s defense team in a battle against the Machines. The trilogy’s first film, “The Matrix,” hit theaters in 1999, followed by “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions,” both coming out in 2003.
But before and after the trilogy, Fishburne made a huge name for himself by being in a bevy of films that have been staples in the Black community.
“Cornbread, Earl and Me,” “The Color Purple,” “Boyz N the Hood,” and “Akeelah and the Bee” are just some of the celebrated movies in which Fishburne has appeared. He now plays Earl “Pops” Johnson on the ABC sitcom “Black-ish.”
Fishburne’s acting skills have also been praised in Hollywood. In 1994, the Georgia-born thespian was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ike Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It.”
But despite the various roles he’s played over the years, Fishburne believes that people will associate him with Morpheus the most when all is said and done.
“It is probably the role that I’ll be best remembered for, which is great. It’s not the only thing I’ll be remembered for, which is better,” he explained. “It’s pretty good. People confuse me with Morpheus. They think I am Morpheus. I am not Morpheus. I’m not even close.”
Fishburne continued, “It’s fine.There’s nothing wrong with people assuming or people perceiving that you have a little wisdom, and that you are strong, and that you are intelligent, and that you are fierce, and that you have a little danger. There’s nothing wrong with that. This is great. This is lovely.”
Although fans may be disappointed at Fishburne not appearing in “The Matrix 4,” the possibility of Jada Pinkett Smith being in it may somewhat make up for that.
Last year Deadline reported that Pinkett Smith’s agent was in negotiations for the actress to reprise her role of Niobe, which she played in “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions.”
The publication also stated that after taking five months off for shooting “The Matrix 4” because of COVID-19, filming has resumed in Berlin, Germany, which Reeves confirmed earlier this month on video.
