You might remember that stuntmen turned directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch helped on the original three Matrix films, helping to bring the action sequences to life for The Wachowskis.
While speaking with Collider, Chad has revealed that Lana Wachowski is stepping-up to handle the second unit filming for the action sequences on Matrix 4.
STAHELSKI: ““It’s more about the creative concept of some of the choreography and backing them up with stuff. Other than the Matrixes, most of their stuff…what makes [Lana] so great is she directs her own action. We’ve had second unit directors on some of the Matrixes just because of the logistics involved. But of late, and especially on Matrix 4, she’s directing her own action. The second units for them are mostly establishing shots, the B-sides of the some of the compositions for some locations. But Lana, she does her own action. She weaves it into the main unit stuff, which is why their stuff looks so good.”
Usually, action sequences are normally handled by the second unit due to the dangerous nature of directing blockbuster level stunts, and normally what you’ll see is stuntmen/stunt coordinators taking those kinds of risks as the second unit director. It’s kind of awesome to see Lana putting herself out like that.
Chad also mentioned that he and David Leitch are helping to choreograph action stuff and training people. We assume that is being done through their stunt company 87Eleven Action Design.
STAHELSKI: “They were really cool. They asked us to help out with the choreography and some of the physical training for the guys. I’m helping out a little bit for a sequence, I think Dave’s helping out for a sequence. Lana’s come back with a lot of love to have a pseudo-family reunion, so that’s been a lot of fun. It’s been good to see a lot of the crew members again. We just finished doing a sequence in San Francisco before the pandemic started.”
When filming will resume is unknown currently as COVID-19 concerns might see filming take a couple more months before things normalize to the point that shooting can resume in Germany.
The cast includes Keanu Reeves (Neo), Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity), and Jada Pinkett Smith (Niobe), Jessica Henwick (Godzilla vs Kong, Iron Fist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Neil Patrick Harris (Starship Troopers, Gone Girl), Toby Onwumere, Erendira Ibarra (Sense8), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen, Aquaman).
Warner Bros. had originally given the film a release date of May 21st, 2021, but hitting that date is looking extremely unlikely.
