Also starring (for sure): Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving. Keanu has signed a deal to act in two "Matrix" sequels where he will receive either 30 million US$ or 15 percent of the gross of the two films, whichever is greater. Empire Online quoted Keanu saying "I just loved the ambition and creativity of the original, So when I was asked if I wanted to do the sequels there was only one answer." And "I can't wait!", Keanu enthused."When I saw what they [the Wachowski brothers] had planned for the rest of the trilogy, I just knew it was going to become something great."

Matrix webmaster Spencer Lamm first talked at The San Diego Comic Convention (August 1999) about the two sequels. The movies will be shot in Australia (Fox Studios, Sydney), back-to-back for 250 days starting in 2001 and released within months of each other in a complete break with cinema marketing tradition. The planned back-to-back production is expected to inject more than 150 million US$ into Sydney's economy and is expected to help entice other major film projects to the city. [Entertainment News (Australia), November 11, 1999]

Warner hopes to release the movies within months of each other, with the second picture ending in a cliffhanger that's resolved in the third. "The Matrix 2" is set for release Christmas 2002 and "The Matrix 3" in the summer of 2003, according to producer Joel Silver (at The MTV Movie Awards 2000). Vancouver-born stuntman Steven McMichael (Hugh Jackman's stunt double in "X-Men") has confirmed he'll be Keanu Reeves' stunt double in the next two "The Matrix" movies.

Popcorn magazine reported (May 27, 1999) producers of the sequels are promising to hire Keanu's band Dogstar for the movie soundtrack. Talking with MSN.Com, Keanu Reeves made a short statement about "The Matrix" sequel - he seems to be certain filming will be happening in Australia (whereas no-one else in the production seems eager to confirm). Anyway here's what Reeves said "We're just doing two movies, and we'll shoot scenes for both simultaneously. I'm going to be in Australia in November. We're going to train for four months and then film for about a year. I've read the scripts, but I'm sworn to secrecy. Almost everybody will be back, including Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss".

Though the details of where they are shooting The Matrix 2 & 3 may seem to be up in the air, it doesn't appear to be the case as far as Carrie-Anne Moss is concerned. While talking to Cinescape Online Cin City columnist, Cindy Pearlman, the actress revealed what she knew about the upcoming production, saying, "We'll be shooting in Australia, San Francisco and Chicago." According to Darkhorizons.com (October 10, 2000): The winner is...Sydney. Keanu Reeves seem sure, now Producer Joel Silver finally confirms that Sydney has been selected as the location for shooting on the next two "Matrix" flicks. Silver says "We talked about possibly shooting in the UK, like we talked about shooting in Germany or Rome. But looking at all the different places, it was strictly a financial decision. It's all based on the economics. As we did the first shoot in Sydney and there were economic benefits to doing such, we decided to shoot the others there, too". Nevertheless Australia isn't the only location they'll be shooting - Chicago and San Fransisco are also on the list with small segments of the film to be shot in the Windy City and the Bay Area starting March 6th.

According to Chip Johnson (SF Gate, January 2, 2001) a film industry source (requesting anonymity) said that much of the movie will be shot in Australia. Oakland, Alameda and possibly other Bay Area locations will be used for some street scenes. "Oakland will get some filming," the industry guy said. There has also been discussion in city offices about some of the requirements for the film, which could include closing a section of Interstate 880 for a high-speed chase scene.

The second installment of the Matrix film series will be called "The Matrix Reloaded" and will hit theaters in 2002, EW.com reported (May 9, 2001). Writer-directors Larry and Andy Wachowski began principal photography March 26, 2001, in Oakland, California. The cast will add Jada Pinkett Smith and singer Aaliyah, both of whom have reportedly signed on for the as yet untitled third Matrix film as well, EW reported. Reloaded will continue shooting in Oakland through June, before taking a summer hiatus, during which the Wachowskis will concentrate on editing and special effects. The cast and crew will then reassemble in September at Fox Studios in Sydney to complete filming.

Newsweek (May 24, 2001) reports that Cadillac is gearing up for a massive ad campaign to market their cars to a much younger target audience. One of the ways Cadillac is going after this market is by using their new luxury pickup truck, the EXT, as a promotional vehicle in the next Matrix film. Newsweek cryptically EXT will be the "vehicle of choice" for the villian in The Matrix Reloaded. There is a ESC recruitment advertisement distributed at SIGGRAPH this year. The illustrated image is of Morpheus holding a kitana sword, pointing at the viewer. The caption reads "We Need A Few Free Minds", then lists the ESC website (www.escfx.com/). The website lists jobs available at the company related to The Matrix SFX (www.escfx.com/jobs/). [source: Aint It Cool News, August 23, 2001]

According to the Australian Daily Telegraph (September 25, 2001) The Matrix cameras started rolling on Monday with Christine Anu, who has scored a role, and Jada Pinkett Smith – wife of Will Smith – being two of the first stars to appear on set. Pinkett Smith arrived in Sydney on the weekend. Well before "action" was called, Keanu Reeves led the Matrix cast and crew on a Buddhist chant with incense burning to ward off any evil spirits hovering near the production's doorstep. Carrie-Anne Moss and Lozza Fishburne also took part. [Source: ReevesDrive]

The Dark Horizons site (September 27, 2001) had a small report by 'Cam' about a possible location for some shootings of "The Matrix Reloaded" in Sydney: "I catch the train to and from school daily. Recently as my train has passed through the old train yards entering Redfern I noticed that something of an epic proportion is going on inside these old buildings which are used heavily in the production television shows and ads. The large doors to one of the buildings was open the other day and many large dome structures built inside were visible. Around the same time various people dressed in black were filming inside an old train." [Source: 'Cam'/DarkHorizons]

The Australian Daily Telegraph reports (October 3, 2001): "Sydney Confidential - Murmurs." If Keanu Reeves and other Matrix cast members are looking and feeling a little bit stiff by the end of the week, it's because they've lost – for the time being at least – their favourite masseur Longy Nguyen. The pressure-point guru flew out of Australia yesterday, accompanying billionaire Frank Lowy, for whom he doubles as bodyguard and, of course, the operator of 10 strong but nimble fingers. [Source: ReevesDrive]

Coming Attractions received an unconfirmed report (October 3, 2001) from a source working on the Matrix sequels that Gloria Foster, the actress who portrayed The Oracle in the first Matrix film, passed away last weekend... "We have not been able to confirm this news via Ms. Foster's representation, but the news does come to us from an individual that has a solid connection to the Matrix productions. According to the Internet Movie Database, Foster is 65 years old. Our source also informs us that Foster filmed the majority of her scenes for The Matrix Reloaded but none for the third Matrix film. Obviously if this report is indeed accurate (and it's at a time like this we hope this turns out to be false), it will present another large problem for the sequels. The Oracle is an "integral" character for both Matrix sequels, and our source said Foster's performance in the second film was nothing short of 'fantastic'. More on this breaking story as it develops." [Source: Coming Attractions]

And Coming Attractions added (October 5, 2001) more info about their previous report: "A representative for Village Roadshow confirmed our source's story today: actress Gloria Foster indeed passed away last weekend. How this will affect her role in The Matrix Reloaded and Matrix 3 remains unclear. The person that first broke the news to us informed CA that at the time of her death, Foster had completed most of her work for Reloaded but none for Matrix 3. She was 64 years old." [Source: Coming Attractions]

Dark Horizons reports (October 24, 2001) some major shooting looks scheduled to be happen in one of Sydney's busiest public squares. A memo has apparently gone out indicating shooting will take place on Tuesday November 6th at 39 Martin Place to "film car driving sequences designed to recreate an American street scene. This will involve several American cars operating on the streets and travelling in the wrong direction". Martin Place featured in several sequences in the first film, most visibly the waterfall in its center serving as the backdrop for the "Woman In The Red Dress" scene. To do the sequences - Elizabeth Street between Hunter St and Market St, and the cross road of King St between Castlereagh St and Phillip St (south) at the corner of Queens Square will be closed through till 6am the next morning. [Source: 'Sideshow Betty'/Dark Horizons] Variety reports Warners is considering putting out both Matrix films in May (possibly Memorial Day) and November of 2003. [Source: Dark Horizons, December 10, 2001]

In the beginning of January 2002 a preliminary The Matrix Reloaded website front page and logo design was for a few days online at the official site (whatisthematrix.warnerbrothers.com/cmp). It is no longer in place but we managed a screen grab for those who missed it. Movie Headlines (January 27, 2002) claims to have found a hidden picture on the official The Matrix site what looks like the first official still from "The Matrix Reloaded". It is a special effects explosion taken at the Alameda Naval Base on June 25, 2000 (according to the image insert).

'Chris' spotted a bit of quiet shooting the other night in the same location used for 'The Girl in the Red Dress' scene from the original: "Stumbled across some extras shooting near the fountain in Martin Place, Sydney last Saturday, 9th of February. A group of twenty or so milled around (sailors, business people, guy on a bicycle riding in circles take after take) as the (second unit director?) shot the crowd with a crane mounted camera which quickly panned up a building and into the sky". [source: 'Chris' /DarkHorizons, February 12, 2002] One of CA's most trusted sources reported late Friday evening that, attached to copies of 20th Century Fox's Minority Report, will be the trailer for The Matrix Reloaded. Minority Report comes out in theaters on June 21. It is possible that Warner Bros. might very well release the trailer earlier than June 21st attached to one of its own pictures. Possible candidates here are for example Insomnia and Scooby-Doo. [source (edited): Coming Attractions, March 15, 2002]

Often, FOX will send out forms to their exhibitors indicating which trailers will come either 'attached' or 'loose in the can' to their upcoming film prints when they're shipped out. In the latest document, the entry for "Star Wars: Episode II" was updated to include word that a third "Minority Report" preview (no surprise there) will be attached, and quite out of the blue - a teaser for "The Matrix Reloaded" will come with the print. By 'loose' though it means not all cinemas will screen it so pick carefully. The same form also revealed a copy of "Sin Eater" & "Road to Perdition" previews will come 'loose' with prints of "Minority Report". [source: Dark Horizons/'Hargon', April 10, 2002]

Moviehole reports that actress Nona Gaye has stepped into the role of Zee originally to be played be Aaliyah. Gaye arrived in Oz on Monday and starts filming next week. [source: Moviehole, April 11, 2002] Musician Paul Oakenfold (who contributed to "Swordfish" and "Planet of the Apes") revealed in Hamburg he has done three tracks for the soundtrack. [source: Dark Horizons, April 11, 2002] The trailer for "The Matrix Reloaded" is being paired with a certain lightsaber-swinging film and the buzz on it is quite good. Anderson Jones of E! Online had the details: When Attack of the Clones bows in May, expect a Matrix: Reloaded preview as part of the Episode II trailer reel. Why should you get to the theater early? Because a pal who checked out the clip in Joel Silver's office says he sat dumbfounded, then asked for it to be rewound so he could watch it again. We just have to see for ourselves. [source: Zentertainment, April 12, 2002]

Release Dates
Reloaded is scheduled to hit USA theaters on May 23, 2003.

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