Saturday, April 28, 2001 What's happening with production?:For the past couple of weeks, if you haven't seen any Matrix activity around the bay, there's a reason. Matrix photo shoots!! According to some people on set, Carrie-Anne , Keanu, Laurence, Hugo, and Jada have all been doing photo shoots with from what I hear will blow away the first outfits from the 1st movie. If anyone has any of the pictures or any info about this please send it to us!
Tuesday, April 24, 2001 Joel Silver talks Matrix 2 fights:'The Matrix' producer Joel Silver believes the fight sequences in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' will be surpassed in the forthcoming 'Matrix' sequences.
"The 'Matrix' sequel is so beyond anything you could ever imagine, it is really staggering what we are going to do on that movie," the big-shot action producer states. "People are not going to believe it, but that's what we have to do because a lot has happened since the first 'Matrix' movie and now we have to be ahead of the wave."
Ironically, it's the man who worked on the 'Matrix' fight sequences, Woo-Ping Yuen, who has upped the ante: Woo-Ping also worked on Ang Lee's martial arts spectacular 'Crouching Tiger' and he's now back at work on the 'Matrix' sequels'.
"I think we're all working with the same people, in the same arena, but we're using it in different ways, which is good," Silver believes. "Ang Lee used Woo-Ping in 'Crouching Tiger', but it's a very different kind of movie, it's a very artistic, very aesthetic picture. These [Matrix] movies are far harder, more action-packed."
The 'Matrix' sequels, starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss (pictured) and Laurence Fishburne, are currently in production in Canada before moving to Australia later in the year (actors strikes permitting). 'The Matrix 2' is expected to be released in summer 2002.
Monday, April 23, 2001 Matrix artists speak about sequels:Two comics artists who did work on the first Matrix have returned to work on the sequels. They have been working for months on the next two installments in the Matrix Trilogy, and expect it to outdo the first Matrix. Steve Skroce, the returning storyboard artist, had this to say: "I've seen some footage and it's fantastic. The little they've shot so far, over the last month or so, is so sweet. I would be very surprised if any of the Matrix fans aren't satisfied with the new ones." Geof Darrow, who is once again doing design work for the project, also commented: "It's an incredibly coherent piece of work. It's going to be an amazing story. I'm pretty lucky to be working on it, this goofy comic book guy from Iowa." They are both still hard at work for Larry and Andy Wachowski. "They said is would be 5-6 months, and I'm going on eight," Skroce commented. "When I get done in June, it will be more like 12-13 months. They don't want anything to be hacked out. It's gotta be right before it's done quickly." Skroce says that he has been working closely with the Wachowski Brothers. "I keep doing sketches until the shot is exactly the way they want," he said. "The movie really does come out of their brains. I'm the translator, that's how I would describe it. We go through an immense amount of detail doing the boards correctly."
Thursday, April 19, 2001 New Matrix Music Update:Its been confirmed the rumour of DarkUFO's involvement is not true.
Tuesday, April 17, 2001 New Matrix Music:This comes from talks at MP3.com and also a report at Dark Horizons. The UK Artists DarkUFO will apparently have its "Extraterrestrial Biological Entity" and "Crash Landing(greenhaus edit)" tracks used in the Matrix sequel. After listening to them, they definitly have a Matrix feel to them and I could see them fitting in the sequels. Check out DarkUFO here!
Friday, April 13, 2001 Keanu back to Matrix training:The death last week of star Keanu Reeves' former girlfriend, Jennifer Syme, did not interrupt the "Matrix" shooting schedule:
Reeves was a pallbearer at her funeral and buried her next to the grave of their stillborn baby. Ever the pro, he went right back into training for his physically demanding role.
Precision Drivers on the set?:Rumor has it that a precision driver was brought in specifically to make sure the stunt drivers don't accidentally hit extras sitting around in parked vehicles.
Joe P. on the set of Matrix 2:Actress Carrie-Anne Moss has her very own shop steward on the set of The Matrix sequel - in the shape of co-star Joe Pantoliano. As Hollywood races towards an all-out writers' strike this summer - which is threatening to halt filming on The Matrix 2 - Moss is grateful for veteran Pantoliano's knowledge on all industry union issues, because she now knows exactly what's at stake. She says, "Joey is such a dear friend of mine but he is also my Screen Actors' Guild connection - he knows everything about it." The actor even came to Moss's aid when she was spending a fortune on medical bills while the pair filmed The Matrix. She adds, "When I made The Matrix I had no income in America, it all came through Australia, so I lost my medical benefits because you have to make $5, 000 a year to get medical benefits, so I had to pay for mine for a good year-and-a-half. So I'm in this huge movie and I'm paying $1, 500 a month. I'm Canadian, where it's free, we don't pay for our medical so it's a bit tough and you don't make residuals when you make something out of the country. I really was lost until Joey stepped forward and showed me of all the benefits I could get back from the union. I'm still no expert but I know a lot more. Joey's obsessed about the whole thing."
Thursday, April 12, 2001 New Villian Cast:Steve Bastoni has joined the cast as a villain. No word yet on what villian he will play (Agent, Virii, or something totally new).
Matrix 2 Freeway Filming:I went by a friends' house last night. This person wasn't home, but This person's roommates were and one of the them has been working on the Matrix 2 for some time (I'd rather not give too many details, in case This person's job would be in jeopardy. Dunno)
This person showed me some "standing-on-the MATRIX freeway" pics. Most of 'em sucked, but one of 'em was really good. "It looks just like a damn freeway" I said. "It IS a freeway" This person said.
I'll paraphrase what This person said next:
"I was watching them film (MATRIX 2) and they were doing car stunts that were crazy! They were flipping this car end-over-end ..."20 FEET IN THE AIR" and were "going, like 50 miles per hour" doing the stunts!" [from AintItCool.com]
Monday, April 9, 2001 Australia Filming Delayed:"The Herald Sun has been covering the death of Jennifer Syme, former girlfriend of Keanu Reeves who was involved just recently in a fatal car accident. Reeves himself has been grief struck enough that its now been confirmed that the Australian leg of shooting on "The Matrix" sequels will be delayed." Reporting by Dark Horizons
Saturday, April 7, 2001 Newspaper Article:Well gang, I finally have scanned the article form the National Post in Canada that I was interviewed for over a YEAR ago. Take a Look!
Thursday, April 5, 2001 Carrie Anne Talks:Her efforts next will be focused on the highly anticipated sequels to The Matrix. She calls the original "very philosophical. I think that's why people responded to it so much. There's a lot of myth in it. It's metaphysical, it's spiritual, it's religious."
She's limited in what she's allowed to say about the next installments, per the writer/directors' requests, but she can confide about the training rigors.
"It's physically demanding beyond anything I could ever have imagined," she says. "Kung fu, stretching, kicking, punching, walking on the treadmill, doing weights, Pilates ... I'm in pretty good shape, but it's almost irrelevant. It's so hard. You can be in great shape just working out an hour and a half a day. Training for a movie after this, like training to actually look good, will be easy. I'll be filing my nails while I do it."Click here for more
Saturday, March 31, 2001 Jada on the Sequels:Apart from being "in a warehouse of pain" from all the wirework and flips and such, Jada Pinkett Smith said that her character Niobi "hangs with Trinity." In fact, Smith had auditioned quite a bit to try and snag the role of Trinity in the first film, she says, back when Val Kilmer was set to play Morpheus.
Thursday, March 29, 2001 Another Addition to the Cast:There's been more casting for a major role in the currently shooting Matrix sequels, plus dealings regarding the Australian portion of the shoot.
According to Variety columnist Michael Fleming, actor Harry Lennix (Titus) has been tapped for the simultaneously shooting sequels. Fleming reports that Lennix will be taking on the villainous role of a character named Lock who will be a part of both the second and third parts. In addition, it is specifically noted that Lock will be pitted against Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne).
Meanwhile, it appears that there was something still going on regarding shooting of the sequels in Australia. Fleming, once again, reports that the production had been haggling with the Australian government in order to get tax breaks said to be worth tens of millions of dollars. Regardless of how that was/is going, word is that Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures decided to shoot there anyway.
As it works out, the production will shift its focus down under in September.
Shooting in Fox Studios again:Australia seems to be the happening place for Hollywood:
The Matrix 2 and 3 will use the exact same studio where Epsiode II was filmed. Two sequels to Oscar-winning blockbuster ""The Matrix'' like the original, will be shot in Australia, Warner Bros Pictures said on Thursday.
The movie will be filmed on location in Sydney, said Lorenzo di Bonaventura, president of worldwide production for AOL Time Warner Inc unit Warner Bros. Futuristic thriller ""The Matrix'' was the first big production filmed at Fox Studios Australia, a 50-50 joint venture between Rupert Murdoch's media giant News Corp Ltd and Australian property developer Lend Lease Corp Ltd.
(Originally Appeared in Variety)
Wednesday, March 28, 2001 More from the set:More eyewitness accounts from those individuals who've seen the shoot!
"Today (3/28) saw the filming of Matrix 2 a block from my work - they'll be doing it for a week or two. Saw Morpheus and Trinity in a car being filmed fot a chase scene, followed by the dudes in dreads and silver in a big Cadillac SUV with Uzi's." ['teiwaz' spotted the duo.]
"I just heard on the news that a they are filming in Oakland, CA a third day (today) on 48th & Telegraph. Get the word out to those in the area." ['BigMarv '.]
"A friend who works at an office building in downtown Oakland got this email from his management today:
-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 11:27 AM To: Everyone Subject: Matrix 2 Movie
Colleagues: As you know, two of our employees were confronted by people associated with the production of Matrix 2 movie about allegedly taking pictures of a GM automobile which was not scheduled to be revealed to the public until 2003. In one case, a camera was confiscated and in another case, film was confiscated. After contacting the Office of the General Counsel, the Offices of the Oakland City Attorney and City Manager, and the Oakland Film Office, I was finally able to speak with Peter Novak of Warner Bros/Eon Entertainment, the group responsible Matrix 2 location filming here in Oakland.
Mr. Novak apologized for the behavior of the employee/interns whoapproached our employees. He acknowledged that they had no right to enter our work area to confront and otherwise intimidate our employees or to confiscate private property. He advised me that they typically handled these situations by attempting to purchase the film. He also advised me responsible interns were not asked back on the set following these incidents. He further assured me that he would make sure that the property is returned or restitution made, if it has not already been done.
Thank you. From anonymous.]
And in the latest issue of UK Magazine it states that actor and martial arts expert Ngai Sing (also known as Colin Chou) is working on the Matrix sequels too. Sing/Chow has appeared in many Hong Kong films including Bodyguard From Beijing and Return to a Better Tomorrow
Tuesday, March 27, 2001 Set Report:I went downtown afterwork to see if there was anything--even lighting equipment--to see. Matrix I is very special to me, and I think it's very cool that some of II is being done in Alameda (where I live) and Oakland (where I work).
Although we didn't see Keanu or Carrie, we were treated to a filming of a black truck-like vehicle (an "Escalade"?) with a camera right in its window, and inside it, a couple of freaky-looking guys with grey dreadlocks (that were white on the bottom) who were wearing silvery-tan suits and wielding automatic weapons. We even got to hear the gunfire as they zipped around the corner (okay--they didn't zip. The whole deal was on a trailer bed pulled by another truck.). I got a better look at one of the guys later--artificially high forehead and Neo-style sunglasses.
The cops, who seemed to be enjoying themselves way too much, were talking about an earlier scene in which a vehicle plunged straight for the newsstand on Broadway street sort of near BART, and how the guys inside dove for cover.
A handler said that the movie people have bought out the entire block (it's not a block, really, more of a wedge) at 16th and San Pablo, where Veronico's cafe was.
I'll cruise around tomorrow after work, too. I probably won't get lucky again, but I *will* have my digital camera with me. And maybe I'll check out the Point (the naval base) eventually... Manex's offices are there, you know, which I thought was cool enough. Even better if they're filming in their own back yard.
Closed streets for filming:According to information from the City of Oakland, The Matrix II will be filming scenes in downtown Oakland this week. Here are the streets they have requested closed:
March 25-27: 16th Street between Telegraph and Clay; San Pablo between 17th and Frank Ogawa Plaza
March 26: Telegraph between Broadway and 17th
March 27: Telegraph between 17th and 19th; 17th between San Pablo and Broadway
Additionally, warnings about delays in the Webster Tube to Alameda on March 28 may or may not be related.
The studio is not really using an airstrip, they are building a "highway" on one of the airstrips. They are also filming quite a few scenes in one of the old hangers. It's not too hard to find it, as it's the hanger with the sign truck outside Burlyman Productions with the names of the cast written on it. Word was that filming was to start today on some interior scenes.
Free Ferrari's for Matrix 2?:Even car manufacturers want a piece of the 'Matrix' Sequels:
They are using an abandoned airstrip in Alameda to film chases and explosions. The movie is getting Porsches and Ferraris free of charge from the European plants. All the production has to pay for is shipping. Once done - even if they were trashed, are sent back.
In addition, there is virtually no chance of real Ferrari's being used in the film, and Porsches are a dime a dozen for this stuff. Plus, I don't really consider either of those to have futuristic cars. HOWEVER, there have been 4 of the new Cadillac Escalade XLT trucks dropped off (in black, probably Agent's vehicles) as well as one of the Cadillac Evoq prototype cars (in silver, probably Neo's?). Very Matrix, unlike the other cars mentioned.
Monday, March 26, 2001 Filming Today!:CountingDown.com posted a scoop regarding shooting in Oakland: "Monday March 26th and Tuesday 27th, The Matrix 2 is going to be shooting in downtown Oakland, CA. A car-chase and a gun fire are planned to be shot. Carrie-Anne Moss will be on the set but nothing about Keanu Reeves or Lawrence Fishburne. The project name of the Matrix 2 is 'Burly Man'."
Location Shoot:The San Francisco Chronicle: "Scenes for a sequel to The Matrix are being filmed at the old Alameda Naval Air Station. It seems the filmmakers have built a set for a freeway wreck, instead of just taking a camera to I-80 and waiting."
Thursday, March 22, 2001 Moss talks sequels:Once again, Carrie-Anne Moss is talking about the upcoming Matrix sequels, and not revealing a single thing, other than her opinions on them.
While talking to the AP, Moss spoke of the project, saying, "The scripts are just fantastic and the journey of my character, and for everybody, it's different. It's just great. So it'll be just interesting to see. It'll be cool. I look forward to it."
Regarding the actress' take on her role of Trinity, Moss says, "I look at her heart and her soul and I just believe in her and believe in the warrior that she is and believe in the cause that she's fighting for, which is for people to be awake. The Matrix movies are incredibly deep for me and very much about things I believe in, in my life."
Wecnesday, March 21, 2001 Filming to Start Soon:Sometime in about 2 weeks, filming will begin for the Matrix 2 and 3. They plan on doing Special Effects for the period of time during the strike. The cast and crew plan on being booked until September of 2002. Filming that late should be essential to the Matrix 3 only as the tentative release date of the Matrix 2 is Christmas of 2002. Matrix 3 should then be ready for summer of 2003.
Tuesday, March 20, 2001 Moss Injury is Good Luck?:In the early training sessions for her two Matrix sequels, Carrie-Anne Moss fractured a bone in her knee.
She calls it a touch of deja vu.
"When I was filming my first action sequence for The Matrix, I seriously twisted my ankle," she recalls. It is the now famous opening sequence for The Matrix in which she outruns machine gun-carrying agents by running along walls.
"I don't know which take it was, but it was near the beginning, and we had to retake it more than 30 times.
"I didn't want anyone to know. I didn't want to be rushed off the set, so I just gritted my teeth and pretended it wasn't painful. I think it actually helped for the scene, and for my character."
Well, if it happened during the first Matrix and that film turned out fantastic, then during the filming of Matrix 2 and 3 it happens again. This type of thing happened to Star Wars: A New Hope and The Phantom Menace as well, albeit a sandstorm. While not a lot of people like The Phantom Menace, A New Hope is the least favorite of the original trilogy as will be the case with The Phantom Menace. Both Great Films (Don't get me started with why I think TPM was Good.) Both had mishaps. Will the Matrix have the same luck? Time will tell.
Saturday, March 17, 2001 Joel Silver on Scripts:"The scripts are so spectacular and the boys [Andy and Larry Wachowski] are very specific, they don't let anyone else see them because they don't to ruin the surprises. There are a lot of surprises in this movie coming up. They're being careful about who reads them and what they let out. [Regarding] all the activity, I don't know where [the Internet is] getting it from, because there are very few scripts around. The movies are going to be absolutely unbelievable - visual effects you cannot believe, incredible characters, great story."
Will we see the City of Zion? "You'll see in the movie."
ESC Ent. to do Visual FX:Despite winning an Oscar for its visuals in ``The Matrix'' Manex Entertainment needs a kung-fu fighting superhero to win any chance of working on Warner Bros.' upcoming sequels for the film. Recent financial woes at the company have prompted Warner Bros. not to award a $30 million contract to Manex's visual f/x arm, opting instead for ESC Entertainment, a new facility founded by members of the Manex team that worked on the first picture.
New Agent:Harold Perrineau ("Oz") and Daniel Bernhardt ("Mortal Kombat: Conquest") have been added to the cast of the next two installments of "The Matrix" franchise for Warner Bros./Village Roadshow Pictures and producer Joel Silver. The first of the sequels is slated to start production this month in Australia with Larry and Andy Wachowski at the helm. The third installment is scheduled to be shot immediately afterward. The story lines for both "Matrix" sequels are being kept under tight wraps, though it is known that Bernhardt will play bad-guy Agent Johnson.
Monica Bellucci joins cast?:Italian beauty Monica Bellucci (''Malena'') is in negotiations to star opposite Keanu Reeves in the back-to-back sequels to ``The Matrix''
The pictures are slated to begin production next month in Oakland, Calif.
Bellucci most recently starred in the Italian-language ``Malena'' for Miramax Films. She also recently graced the cover of Esquire magazine, draped only in caviar.
Born in Perugia, Italy 32 years ago, Bellucci has made more than 20 films since 1990, most in her native country. She made her English-language debut as Dracula's bride in Francis Ford Coppola's ``Dracula.'' Her first major English-language role was in last year's ``Under Suspicion'' opposite Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman.
Bellucci also stars in the French-language picture ``The Brotherhood of the Wolf,'' which is doing boffo business in France.
In addition to Reeves, cast members Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are returning for the ``Matrix'' sequels. The pictures will be directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski.
Reuters/Variety REUTERS By Dana Harris and Adam Dawtrey
Filming Expenses:Variety reports the following:
While ``The Matrix'' pitted humans against machines in a war for the future of the planet, the sequel has been all about a battle between the filmmakers and the Australian government over tax breaks. At stake is a disputed tax incentive that could be worth up to $30 million for the two films shooting back to back, which is roughly Keanu Reeves's upfront salary for the pair. Warner Bros., which is partnering again with Village Roadshow Pictures (VRP) on two sequels, would not comment, though studio sources acknowledge that a dispute has been ongoing, with a lot of money at stake.
The sequels are booked to shoot at the Fox Studios in Sydney starting in September, but that was done with the full expectation that the production could take advantage of 10B of the Tax Act, which is frequently used to entice big budget films to shoot Down Under. It's a complicated arrangement that entices locals to front production money for massive write-offs, saving the film's financier all kinds of interest charges. The government has tightened the loopholes on the grounds that the local investors aren't risking their funds, since in recent cases they are either aligned with the studio or are guaranteed recoupment. The stalemate is considered serious enough that the filmmakers have had to at least explore the remote prospect of shooting the sequels in Canada.
WBand VRP were counting on that discount to help them bringin the sequels at an affordable level. People close to thefilm said they hope to spend $215 million for the pair, thoughother rumored estimates are higher. That number would requirefinancial discipline, given that ``The Matrix'' has become WB's most valuable film franchise, and that Larry and Andy Wachowski will understandably be looking to top the cutting-edge effects employed in the first film, which cost an estimated $80 million.
Fortunately for the studio and VRP, the Aussie issue can take its time to unfold, since the film will begin production pre-strike in Oakland. Filming in Australia won't happen until after the actors strike is averted.
Rumors:Dark Horizons posted the following:
French show Exclusif just ran a segment on the sequels and the information gleaned does sound rather speculative. The show indicates some of the fights will be filmed in zero gravity using NASA's Vomit Comet, whilst some characters will transform into animals as well as other humans like the Agents could. I'd question that one, but in the meantime the town of Akron, Ohio will apparently be the site of some very brief shooting. Seems this place has a rather unique and distinct mile long 50-year-old bridge which will be used.
AICN also posted the following:
In a forum hosted by a class I have at UNC-Chapel Hill, we were visited by Universal President Ron Meyer who was talking about the industry. During the forum he was explaining about the type of things they couldn't do without computers and revealed a detail about the Matrix 2. He said his friend (Silver?) is a producer on the film and he was explaining a sequence where Neo (Keanu Reeves) is pitted in a fight against another 100 Neos. Perhaps the Agents have figured how to program a Neo agent?
Saturday, February 10, 2001 Matrix Training:Keanu Reeves has been talking about the training he must endure for the back-to-back Matrix sequels projects. While talking to Empire Online, Reeves spoke of the demands upon him and the rest of the cast, saying, "I'm there Monday through Friday from nine-thirty to five. Basically, you come in in the morning and work with the Hong Kong action team, the fight choreographers. You come in in the morning and you stretch for about an hour and a half. And then you kick, you go through a series of exercises that you do every day. And then after that you go into specialized training: every person gets another person to work with.and you go through whatever particular training you need for the fights. And then after that, generally, we do choreography, which is learning the fights, and then we do wire work."
COUNTINGDOWN.COM Exclusive:One of our very own Editors, Germain, was able to attend a press junket for 'Sweet November.' During the conference, he was able to slip in a question, concerning the 'Matrix' sequels, and another question about Keanu's computer habits. Here's how Keanu answered, written from a true fan point of view: ...Into the room walks Keanu Reeves. I'm thinking, "Oh my GOD, its NEO. IT'S TED LOGAN, holy xxxx!!!!" But I hold in my excitement. All the questions I got from the countingdown volunteers were aimed at Keanu (with the exception of like 2), so I knew I had to represent them well. The interview was going well when I decided, it was my turn to ask a question. "You've stated in previous interviews that beyond wire work, the scenes in the next Matrix films are much more elaborate, can you add any more to this?" Keanu looks at me, thinks, mutters to himself, "what am i allowed to say here" and answers. "Well, there are alot of weapons in this one, and instead of one on one battles like the original film, there will be many more multi person battles." There was more than that, but that was the gist. The questions continue and I want to ask another. I wait for a silence and ask, "Since we are the online group here, I'm curious, do you use the internet very often?" Keanu laughs and says, "I dont even own a computer. The Wachoski brothers make fun of me all the time. 'You're fxxxxxx Neo, and you don't own a COMPUTER?!?!,' to which i say, 'That's why they call it acting.' " The entire room laughs. Keanu is a nice guy. (Thanks to Germain for a most excellent report)
High Speed Chase:There are some tidbits of info regarding location shooting of The Matrix sequels in the Oakland area. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an anonymous industry source told the paper, "Oakland will get some filming."
In addition, word has it that have been discussions in the city offices regarding shooting a high-speed chase scene on a Interstate 880. Portions of the road will need to be closed off to do so.."
Filming of the sequels is primarily taking place in Australia with additional location work in the San Francisco/Oakland area as well as Chicago.
More Mystery:The Wachowski brothers, directors of "The Matrix 2" and "3" reportedly visited the "Final Fantasy" Studios in Hawaii to request some digital art work from the film. Could all of this be "Matrix" related though?
Saturday, February 3, 2001 Cast Confirmations: The Hollywood Reporter confirmed casting with people such as Aaliyah and Jada Pinkett Smith joining Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving. The filming of both sequels will start in Australia during March. [from Hollywood Reporter]
Matrix 2 and 3 to shoot simultaneously:According to Keanu Reeves in an interview with Eon., the upcoming 'Matrix' sequels will be shot simultaneously (probably to cut production costs). Here's a clip: Reeves, who began training in November for his 16 months of shooting for the upcoming THE MATRIX sequels (which he says will be shot "intermingling" not back to back).
'Cypher' talks Matrix sequels:Journal Sentinel recently posted an article about Joe Pantoliano talking about the upcoming "Matrix 2" You may not be able to spell Joe Pantoliano's name, but the versatile character actor turns up in a wide range of mainstream and independent films, from "The Fugitive" to "Bound." The latter was directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, who hired Pantoliano for their next film, "The Matrix." But Pantoliano does not appear in the two "Matrix" sequels, starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, now being prepared. He does, however, co-star with Moss and Guy Pearce in the taut and tangled noirish thriller "Memento," about a man with no short-term memory who's trying to solve the murder of his wife. "Memento" was shown at the festival here. As a character actor in a studio film, Pantoliano is "the fourth or fifth guy going through the door" in a film in which he has to "breathe life into underwritten roles and one-dimensional characters." In independent films, Pantoliano gets far less money but better-written parts, like in "Memento." If the cast "had asked for what we usually get, this movie doesn't get made," he said. "Something like this is a labor of love. We were invested emotionally and financially in this movie." As for "The Matrix" sequels, the Wachowskis didn't ask him to return. "They killed me and they kept me dead," Pantoliano said of the original. "But they're great guys, and they've been too good for me to bum-rap them."
Aaliyah joins cast: Aaliyah, the singer who made her feature acting debut in Warner Bros.' "Romeo Must Die," has been added to the cast of the subsequent installments of "The Matrix" franchise for Warners/Village Roadshow Pictures and producer Joel Silver. The first of the sequels is slated to start production in March in Australia with filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski at the helm. The third installment is scheduled to be shot immediately following the second. The story lines for both "Matrix" sequels are being kept under tight wraps, but it is known that Aaliyah will play a character named Zee and will likely be more prominent in the third installment. Original cast members Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are back on board for the sequels, and Jada Pinkett Smith has been added to the cast as Niobi, the love interest for Fishburne's character.
C.H.U.D. landed the Aaliyah casting news waaaay back on December 7th, along with the Harold Perrineau, Jr. (that's also all but confirmed) and Harry Lennix (Titus) also landing roles in the sequels. So far CHUDs been two for three, and we'd bet heavily that Lennix is also in there too, just not officially announced as of yet. [Originally appeared on C.H.U.D.]
Strike Plan:Variety reports straight from Matrix producer Joel Silver's office the revised filming schedule for the two sequels. Silver told the trade magazine that the potential actors and writers' strikes have forced the production to now shoot stateside. Once the strike is over, production will then shift to Australia as was the original plan.
Variety lays out the plan-of-attack: the sequels will lens in Oakland, CA. for twelve weeks, starting mid-March. That would bring them up to about mid-June and the edge of the potential actors strike that could start July 1st. If the strike hits, the production then shifts to post-production work on the scenes they've got in the can (i.e special effects.) Then, if the strike lasts for a few months, filming will begin again by early fall down under.
That's if the actors strike happens, and if it does, it goes on no longer than three months.
Saturday, January 20, 2001 Harold Perrineau, Jr.: Back in December, a report on CHUD mentioned the possibility of Harold Perrineau, Jr. (OZ) being among the cast. And then we don't recall hearing anything more about it. But now an anonymous source sent us an article that appeared in The New York Daily News where they spoke with Perrineau about his prospects -- which included him being in this film. He talks about how he's in the gym training for the pic and is looking forward to it. Like we said, this is the first we've heard of it -- can somebody tell us who he's playing? [Originally appeared in the New York Daily News; sent in anonymously. from Corona]
Woo-Ping dispells rumors: Yuen Woo-Ping told the Oriental Daily newspaper that the Coming Attractions-spawned rumor about him threatening to leave the Matrix sequels was simply not true. Woo-Ping also said the reports about Reeves having a broken ankle were false, and that Jet Li was never in advanced discussions about taking on a starring role in the sequels. The fight choreographer also said that "serious stuff" was going to appear in the sequels and called the first movie "foreplay".
In a related story, the protective padding that was photographed around Reeves' left lower foot region declined to comment about this story. [Thanks to 'Senior Rubia', from Corona]
Matrix 2 stuff: If you haven't been to the OfficialMatrix website for a while, perhaps it's time you took a look. We'll tell you why.
Two new comic stories have shown up in the past month:
The first is by David Lapham, creator of Stray Bullets, and is titled There Are No Flowers in the Real World When their hovercraft gets damaged in the real world, Rocket,the rebel team's only survivor, finds himself trapped inside The Matrix with no way to escape. With his body badly injured, he needs to wait while a rescue party is dispatched to findhis lost vessel and bring his mind back out to his realbody. As the days pass, he begins to realize his body backin the real world might not make it until help arrives...
In Bill Sienkiewicz's Broadcast Depth, a three man rebel team enjoys a brief moment in a warm tropical place. When the two daughters of one of the rebels decide to hack into The Matrix themselves and wish their mother a happy birthday, what they don't realize is that their signal was traced by Sentinels and they lead the machines right to their mother's hovercraft...
There's two interesting things to note about Sienkiewicz's Broadcast Depth:
When you saw The Matrix, did you ever wonder where the children in the Oracle's apartment must be in the real world? They couldn't be in The Matrix, or else the Agents would ride through them. So they must have been somewhere outside The Matrix, jacking into the construct. But where? And how does this clue bear some importance to what you'll see in The Matrix 2? We'll leave you to figure it out, but we know that the place where those children are is of some importance to a place you'll see in the sequel. Our friends told us that much, at least.
What's up with that flashing "A" on the Broadcast Depth title screen? And what happens when you click on it? Find out for yourself. We're just here to direct you to interesting places.
Michelle Yeoh out:"Michelle Yeoh is officially out of the running for The Matrix sequels. The star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon told the paper that she had turned down the offer and instead was going to focus on starring in and producing The Touch, a new action movie that will be produced by Yeoh's new production company.
"I'm not going to do The Matrix," Yeoh told Page Six. "I'm a great fan of the Wachowski brothers but some things are more important. I just started my own production company and the filming of it conflicted with my movie. I believe it is time to do other things, stories coming from Asia. At the end of the day you have to do what's really important to you."
Video Game:Next Gen has again confirmed that Shiny Entertainment is hard at work on the Matrix Video Game, although unofficially. See the latest Next Gen Magazine for details.
Saturday, January 6, 2001 Oakland shooting:There are some tidbits of info regarding location shooting of The Matrix sequels in the Oakland area. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an anonymous industry source told the paper, "Oakland will get some filming."
In addition, word has it that have been discussions in the city offices regarding shooting a high-speed chase scene on a Interstate 880. Portions of the road will need to be closed off to do so.
Filming of the sequels is primarily taking place in Australia with additional location work in the San Francisco/Oakland area as well as Chicago.
Stuart
Wells:IGN FilmForcealso landed a very cool exclusive (by way of Empire magazine): Stuart Wells (who played the father in Billy Elliot) has auditioned for a role in the Matrix sequels! Empire reports that Wells has completed one screentest and was returning for another go. [Originally appeared on IGN FilmForce and Empire magazine. Reporting by Corona]
Saturday, December, 30, 2000 Hidden Video:The official Matrix site posted a small hidden video clip that shows a new hovercraft similar to the Nebuchadnezzar in the Matrix but the body is different. Undoubtedly Matrix 2 in my opinion but you can decide that for yourselves.I won't tell you the link (it's supposed to be hidden after all) but a hint would be the new comic if you follow this link.[reported by Movieheadlines.net]
Saturday, October 14, 2000 Fishburne can't talk Matrix 2:Don't ask Laurence Fishburne to talk about the upcoming Matrix sequels. When asked by Cinescape Online Cin City columnist Cindy Pearlman what the sequels will specifically be about, Fishburne answers, "I'm sworn to secrecy. If I tell you, I won't have to kill you. I'll have to kill me by jumping off the building."
July 13, 1999
"Keanu Reeves has been signed to appear in two sequels to The Matrix (1999), to be filmed in Australia, the Sydney Sunday Telegraph reported. In a break with ordinary production and marketing practices, the two films are expected to be shot back-to-back with a cliff-hanger in the first film leading to a finale in the second, which will be released "within months" of the first one. The two films, currently titled Matrix 2 and Matrix 3, will be produced by Warner Bros. and Australia's Village Roadshow at the new Fox Studios in Sydney, the newspaper said."-IMDB
Similar report from www.cinescape.com: Report: Keanu Back For 'Matrix' 2 & 3 Keanu Reeves has reportedly reached a deal that will see him jack into The Matrix twice more. Australia's Sunday Telegraph was told by "a prominent industry insider" that the pact amounts to "a bigger deal than James Cameron got for Titanic." Additionally, the paper reports that the Wachowski brothers negotiated for a cut of the film's total box office, and that the sequels will be filmed back-to-back in Sydney once again with sights set on releasing the pictures within months of each other (a la Lord of the Rings). There's little word on possible plot points save that the second movie will likely lead into the third with a cliffhanger. (A thousand thanks to 'Fabio2' for passing a scan along).
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