The Matrix 5's Release Timeline Clarified In New Report

Published Oct 8, 2026, 10:33 AM EDT Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Everyone could be entering The Matrix 5 sooner rather than later. The Matrix franchise is a landmark cyberpunk creation by the Wachowskis that reinvented the sci-fi genre. It has since generated over $3 billion globally through its movies, animation, video games, and comics. The Matrix returned with original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss 18 years after the sequel, The Matrix Resurrections, and now a fifth film is officially in development, reigniting the entire fandom. A new report by Deadline suggests that The Matrix 5 could have an official release timeline after years of waiting. The report suggests Drew Goddard is in the writing process and will have the movie released in 2029. Goddard is also directing the upcoming movie, which will make it the first live-action Matrix not directed by the Wachowskis. However, the return of both Neo (played by Reeves) and Trinity (played by Moss) remains secretive, although Reeves shared enthusiasm when asked if he would return. Goddard shared with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley in February 2026 that he was "in my writing cave writing. I don't know how long I'll be in that writing cave, but whenever I come out, I'll have news to share." Not much is known about the plot, but Warner Bros. executive Jesse Ehrman stated that Matrix 5 "will advance the fantasy world without straying too far from what made the series a success." The Matrix Resurrections was released in 2021, and had rather mixed critical reviews upon its release. Both audiences and critics have a 63% rating with reviews stating, "The Matrix Resurrections takes itself seriously, much more so than the original film, and it is written and directed with a solemn purpose, as if there was really some radical subversion inherent in the story," and "Lana Wachowski delivers a surprisingly meta, self-aware movie about the original trilogy packed with bold, fascinating ideas but an absolutely terrible execution." More to come...