Has the reason for a new Morpheus in coronavirus epidemic continues to disrupt both the entertainment industry, and everyday life in general.
The most intriguing figure in The Matrix 4 at this early stage is unquestionably Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne's wise mentor character from the original movies. Fishburne wasn't announced alongside Reeves and Moss as a returning cast member, which would strongly suggest he's not in the new movie. However, among The Matrix 4's new additions are Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Abdul-Mateen is heavily rumored to be playing a younger version of Morpheus. This raises a host of reality-bending questions, but the most pressing is why other returning characters will be played by the same actors (and therefore would have also aged), while Morpheus will be played by someone else, and a different, younger actor.
The answer to this riddle might have already been provided in The Matrix Online, a video game sequel released in 2005. Despite the difference in platform, The Matrix Online was touted as a genuine continuation of the movie trilogy, expanding the Wachowskis' canon narrative. Among the various significant events that took place inside the game was the death of Morpheus, who is murdered by a mysterious killer. The game's plot sees Morpheus get riled up by the Machines' refusal to return Neo's body, and he begins causing trouble in the Matrix in response, before being struck down by a program called The Assassin. If The Matrix 4 retains The Matrix Online as part of the official franchise canon, then the death of Morpheus provides a clear explanation as to why the character would need a new actor in the movie.
While Neo and Trinity also appear to be dead at the end of the Matrix trilogy, The Matrix Online strongly hints that the duo haven't perished entirely, fulfilling the Oracle's prophecy from the end of The Matrix Revolutions. Morpheus, on the other hand, is properly dead, with no easy route back, and this could be the reasoning behind his new look in The Matrix 4. It seems likely that Neo and Trinity will be brought back for a new purpose in The Matrix 4, either by the Matrix itself, the Machines, or another faction entirely. Since he died like a regular citizen, Morpheus probably couldn't return so easily. Consequently, Neo and Trinity may need to bend the rules of the Matrix somewhat, and dig up an earlier version of Morpheus to help them in their latest quest, since the original is no longer around.
It would certainly be strange if The Matrix 4 did acknowledge the plot of The Matrix Online, since the game not only ended prematurely, but was released a whole 15 years ago. Most franchises would just follow on from the previous movie, ignoring any supposedly canon material released during the interim. However, Morpheus reportedly being played by a brand new actor lines up surprisingly well with the events of The Matrix Online, and the game answers key questions fans are asking about the character's return. However, The Matrix 4 must also take into that a very small percentage of its audience will be familiar with the online game's story, and Morpheus' death will still need to be explained on-screen.
