For the first time in 18 years, The matrix The franchise is back on the big screen with the final chapter in Neo’s decades-long saga and the mystery surrounding his very presence. But, before you go to your local cinema or sit on the sofa to watch Matrix resurrections (one of Keanu Reeves’ upcoming movies) to stream on HBO Max, there’s a few key bits of information you’ll probably want to brush up on from the three previous films in the sci-fi action franchise.

And, as time is running out and you may not have time to watch all three Matrix movies in a long marathon, we’ve rounded up seven takeaways about the franchise, its main cast and concepts. That being said, let’s get back to The matrix.

The main spoilers of the original Matrix trilogy to come …

The Matrix is ​​a simulated reality created by machines to use humans as a source of energy

As Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) explains in the franchise’s first entry, The Matrix is ​​a “neuro-interactive simulation” first created by machines after humans burned the skies in an attempt to cut off the primary source. energy of machines – the sun. At one point, the machines built the Matrix as a way to control the human population by keeping it trapped in a simulation, while also using it as a source of energy.

Pretty much anything and everything is possible in The Matrix, and Neo, Morpheus, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and others who have been rescued from its grip are enjoying the setting and limitless possibilities for a variety of uses. different. But, just because users live in a computer-generated world doesn’t mean there aren’t real-world consequences, because if you die in the simulation, you also die in real life.

Matrix is ​​in its sixth iteration in the original trilogy

All along The matrix, Neo is introduced as “The One”, the person who was prophesied to end the war between humans and machines and bring peace to the world. Over time, we learn that not only is Neo not the first so-called Messiah to come and liberate humanity, but it’s not even the first version of The Matrix. In fact, as the architect (Helmut Bakaitis), the computer program that built the network, tells Neo towards the end of The Matrix Reloaded, it is currently in the sixth iteration of the simulation.

On top of that, Neo learns that “The One” in the previous five versions of The Matrix had the ability to reboot the system and repopulate Zion, humanity’s last stronghold deep in the face of the planet. But, unlike his predecessors, Neo decides to follow his heart and save Trinity, who is inches from death instead of agreeing to the Architect’s terms.

Agent Smith was eliminated after Neo and the Machines reached a deal

During the first three Matrix movies, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) and Neo repeatedly met, killed each other (before coming back to life), and seemed to get stronger with each interaction. As Neo grew as a force for good, Smith became the embodiment of chaos, determined to break all the rules of the Matrix and assimilate anyone who stood in his way, whether human or computers, including the Oracle (Mary Alice) in Matrix revolutions.

Towards the end of the final film in the trilogy, Neo heads to the City of Machines to negotiate a deal with the Machines that he would beat Agent Smith once and for all if they let Zion (and humanity) live. in peace. After a long, hard fight, Smith is defeated and the Machines keep their promise, just before Zion is destroyed by the invading army.

Neo and Trinity both died in the Matrix Revolutions

There have been a ton of questions about Matrix resurrections since the release of the first trailer, including a few on Trinity and Neo’s relationship. If you remember, the couple died in Matrix revolutions, with Trinity fatally injured in a crash landing near Machine City, and Neo dying after his epic final showdown with Agent Smith. In the new trailers released so far, the two are alive and well, although they seem to have no recollection of each other or their shared history inside and out. outside of the die.

How the two were reinserted into The Matrix will most certainly be examined in the upcoming fourth installment of the franchise. But don’t forget Trinity and Neo both died before the end of the original trilogy.

The Matrix was restarted once more at the end of the Matrix Revolutions

After Neo’s sacrifice and the peace brought by the deal he made with the machines, the Matrix was restarted, kicking off the seventh iteration of the complex simulation. At the end of The matrix: revolutions, all programs and humans assimilated by rogue agent Smith have returned to their original state, including Sati (Tanveer K. Atwal), who will be played by Priyanka Chopra in the upcoming fourth installment.

There appears to be a moment of peace both in the real world and in the Matrix as the original trilogy comes to an end, although it’s unclear how long that will last, especially with the ominous comments made by l architect before his departure. in the distance.

The Oracle knew Neo would return at some point in the future

In the last moments of Matrix revolutions, Sati asks the Oracle if she thinks they will ever see Neo again, to which the powerful figure responds by saying that she suspects they will someday see him. Throughout the trilogy, the Oracle has been one of Matrix characters who always seemed to know what was going to happen before it happened (even when Agent Smith came to assimilate it in the last chapter). And, since we know that Neo has somehow returned in The Risen Matrix, the omniscient computer program is right again.

Morpheus as we knew him from the trilogy died in the Matrix online video game

As you probably know at this point, Laurence Fishburne will not be reprising her role as Morpheus in Matrix resurrections, and the character (or at least a version of him) will instead be played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. There haven’t been many answers as to why Morpheus looks so different this time around, so it’s worth noting that the character actually died earlier in the franchise’s canon. Don’t go rummaging through the movies looking for a scene you missed, because Morpheus isn’t dead on the big screen, but rather in The online matrix video game in 2005.

According to Kotaku, Morpheus’ death at the hands of an assassin capable of circumventing the Matrix code, was one of the biggest plot points of the MMORPG in its heyday. There is probably more to the story, but we’ll have to wait for the next chapter in the saga to unfold.

The three Matrix the films are being released on HBO Max, which will also be the temporary home for Matrix resurrections when it is released on December 22, 2021.