[30], From 26 July to 27 September 2014, Weaving played the titular role of Sydney Theatre Company's production of Macbeth. He stated that since Ghost in the Shell had gained recognition in America, the Wachowskis used it as a "promotional tool". I wish them well. [5] In 2012, it was placed 122nd on the list of highest-grossing films of all time, and the second highest-grossing film in the Matrix franchise after The Matrix Reloaded ($742.1million). Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Though Weaving reprised his role in two sequels, he does not have much personal investment in the Transformers films. The Matrix draws from and alludes to numerous cinematic and literary works, and concepts from mythology, religion and philosophy, including the ideas of Buddhism, Christianity, Gnosticism, Hinduism, and Judaism. She basically didnt feel that my commitment to the National Theatre was going to fit in with the dates that she had in mind for me.. What did the Wachowskis see that made them want him in this role? Proof and Priscilla are on my watchlist now. Weaving explained his absence in this movie in an interview with Collider back in . This actually marks the second time Weaving didn't reprise a big role in a blockbuster franchise, as he declined to return as Red Skull in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, after originating the part in Captain America: The First Avenger. Even though the OG leading pair, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, are back to reprise their roles, Weaving won't be there to join them. Weaving played Agent Smith in the original Matrix trilogy, and to some he is just as iconic as Keanu Reeves' character Neo. A long-term member of the Screen Rant family, Michael looks forward to continuing on creating new content for the site for many more years to come. [123][124] The Matrix also received BAFTA awards for Best Sound and Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects, in addition to nominations in the cinematography, production design and editing categories. 4 Hugo Weaving: $30 MillionHowever, it isn't just The Lord of the Rings where Weaving has made his money, as the veteran actor has appeared in countless major movies such as The Matrix, Captain America: First Avenger, and V For Vendetta. I loved a lot of it and wasnt sure about other bits. [131][132] The pods can be seen in Welcome to Paradox Episode 4 "News from D Street" from a 1986 short story[133] of the same name by Andrew Weiner which aired on September 7, 1998, on the SYFY Channel and has a remarkably similar concept. I have SO many thoughts and so many questions and maybe well get to some more, but one of the first things I want to know is: what are the great roles Hugo Weaving performed prior to landing Agent Smith in The Matrix? How did the Ganja travel to the 6th layer by ship? [8] Other writers have also commented on the similarities between The Matrix and Dick's work;[142][152][153] one example of such influence is a Philip K. Dick's 1977 conference, in which he stated: "We are living in a computer-programmed reality, and the only clue we have to it is when some variable is changed, and some alteration in our reality occurs". [69] For Trinity, Barrett experimented with how each fabric absorbed and reflected different types of light, and was eventually able to make Trinity's costume mercury-like and oil-slick to suit the character. Enter the Fist (2002),[175] Lastikman (2003); Marx Reloaded in which the relationship between Neo and Morpheus is represented as an imaginary encounter between Karl Marx and Leon Trotsky;[176] and in video games such as Conker's Bad Fur Day. The Matrix and its two sequels collectively earned a total of $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office. Here's why Hugo Weaving didn't reprise his iconic role asAgent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections. Furthermore, many people who saw The Matrix Ressureactions were still confused about why Morpheus looked and acted completely different in the film. Directed by Lana Wachowski from a script she co-wrote with Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchel, the upcoming sequel, The Matrix 4 stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Toby Onwumere, Erndira Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, Priyanka Chopra, Andrew Caldwell, and Brian J. Smith. [52], The dojo set was built well before the actual filming. Beyond the appearance change, this version of Smith is a little less chaotic evil and much more chaotic neutral. In an interview with Collider, Weaving explained that he met with Lana Wachowski and almost landed a deal to reprise his role as Agent Smith. [170], Following The Matrix, films made abundant use of slow-motion, spinning cameras, and, often, the bullet time effect of a character freezing or slowing down and the camera dollying around them. The Agents interrogate Morpheus to learn his access codes to the mainframe computer in Zion, which would allow them to destroy it. The machines had to amend their choice of programming in order to make people subservient to them, and so they conceived the Matrix in the image of the world in 1999. "Revolutions" ends with Smith being defeated (again), for good this time. [35] Stephen Dowling from the BBC noted that The Matrix's success in taking complex philosophical ideas and presenting them in ways palatable for impressionable minds might be its most influential aspect. It was also released on 4K HDR Blu-ray on May 22, 2018. [39] According to editor Zach Staenberg on the DVD audio commentary track, the production team sent an edit of the film's first minutes (featuring Trinity's encounter with police and Agents) to Warner executives, and secured Warner's "total support of the movie" from then on. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. By the turn of the millennium, Weaving achieved international recognition through appearances in mainstream American productions. Smith would go on to evolve into the big bad of the original Matrix trilogy in the sequels The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, becoming, in essence, aself-replicating virusand nearly taking over The Matrix before Neo defeated him by lettingSmith overwrite him (allowingthe machinesthat runthe Matrix to delete Smith and his clones). Unsurprisingly, Fishburne was asked why he wasnt a part of the fourth Matrix movie during those conversations and his answers have been mindblowing and simple. "[11] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. The nature of Smith as a renegade program within the matrix makes any potential future changes to his appearance easy to explain away. [126] In February 2022, the film was named one of the five finalists for Oscars Cheer Moment as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' "Oscars Fan Favorite" contest, for the "bullet time" scene, finishing in fifth place.[127][128]. He is the uncle of actress Samara Weaving, who also began her career in Australia before transitioning to American roles. The method of using real photographs of buildings as texture for 3D models eventually led the visual effect team to digitize all data, such as scenes, characters' motions and expressions. Weaving played the title role as V in the 2005 film V for Vendetta, in which he was reunited with the Wachowskis, creators of The Matrix trilogy, who wrote the adapted screenplay. Weaving played a supporting role in Joe Johnston's 2010 remake of the 1941 film The Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro. [166] In the original script, Switch was a woman in the Matrix and a man in the real world, but this idea was ultimately dropped. However, in this case, the fact that Mateen II was cast as a version of Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections was a problem for the film. [4] While at the Downs School, in 1973 Weaving played one of his first theatrical roles, taking the part of Captain Asquith in Robert Bolt's The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew. Using this momentum, they later asked to direct The Matrix. In addition to his live action appearances, Weaving has had several voice over roles, including in the films Babe (1995), Happy Feet (2006) and Happy Feet Two (2011), and the Transformers series as Megatron (20072011). Very much at home in Australia with his wife Katrina and their two children Harry and Holly, the actor refuels his love of acting by returning to the stage as much as possible. The code received the Runner-up Award in the 1999 Jesse Garson Award for In-film typography or opening credit sequence. The Matrix is arguably the ultimate cyberpunk artifact. The Wachowskis have little feeling for character or human interaction, but their passion for moviesfor making them, watching them, inhabiting their worldis pure and deep. When not writing, Michael enjoys going to concerts, taking in live professional wrestling, and debating pop culture. [90] The film as part of The Matrix Trilogy was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 30, 2018. [33], The sunglasses, a staple of the film's aesthetics, were commissioned for the film by designer Richard Walker from sunglasses maker Blinde Design.[70]. [26] He appeared in a segment of the Australian anthology film The Turning, based on Tim Winton's collection of linked stories, entitled "The Commission", directed by David Wenham. As much as I think "Resurrections" was a satisfying, necessary conclusion to the series, it's still a movie with a lot of elements that might rub any normal person the wrong way. In 2006, he worked with Cate Blanchett on a reprise of the STC production of Hedda Gabler in New York City. I really wanted to know why we were doing it and what's to be gained, apart from making money." He regularly appears in productions by the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). Unfortunately, the timing didn't work for the film and its villain, much to Weaving's disappointment. One of Australia's most respected actors, Hugo Weaving is known for his turns in some of the most successful movie franchises of all time. Hugo Weaving was fortunate enough to be part of three of the biggest franchises in cinema history with The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, before production began on The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, the first actor from the series left the franchise behind. During the filming of these action sequences, there was significant physical contact between the actors, earning them bruises. Those are the words first spoken by Hugo Weaving's Agent Smith while interrogating Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) in the original Matrix from 1999. [158][160] Some interpreters of The Matrix mention Baudrillard's philosophy to support their claim "that the [film] is an allegory for contemporary experience in a heavily commercialized, media-driven society, especially in developed countries". While Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss came back to reprise their iconic roles, Agent Smith was admirably played by Jonathan Groff instead of Hugo Weaving.. He is the recipient of six Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA) and has also been recognised as an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia. Most recently, Michael helped launch Screen Rant's new horror section, and is now the lead staff writer when it comes to all things frightening. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss portrayed Neo and Trinity, respectively, in all three chapters of the film series, each of which were directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. [41] In early 1997, the Wachowskis had Reeves read Simulacra and Simulation, Kevin Kelly's Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World, and Dylan Evans's ideas on evolutionary psychology even before they opened up the script,[16] and eventually he was able to explain all the philosophical nuances involved. They got the cast they got because that was the cast that agreed to train for six months. In 1998, he received the "Best Actor" award from the Montreal World Film Festival for his performance as a suspected serial killer in The Interview. Hugo Weaving Wasn't Totally Sold On The Matrix Resurrections Script, But That's Not Why He Isn't In The Movie. Fishburne explained he wasnt involved in that decision, Weaving revealed that he almost starred in the fourth Matrix movie, Quotes From Hugo Weaving About Agent Smith And His Other Iconic Roles, 'Matrix 4' Has Drastically Changed Keanu Reeves' Net Worth, Here's How, These Are The Richest Final Girls In Horror Film History Ranked, Ryan Gosling Stopped Mid-Scene In The Notebook And Asked The Director To Replace Rachel McAdams, These '80s Stars Left Showbusiness For Good, What These Celebrities Thought Of Bill Burr's Controversial Grammy Speech, Alaskan Bush People Glazed Over Bear Brown's Arrest, Viewers Think There's More To The Story, Bruce Springsteen Forgave Howard Stern Before Their Bombshell Interview, Here's Why. Before Cypher can kill Neo and Trinity, crew member Tank regains consciousness and kills him before pulling Neo and Trinity from the Matrix. It gave me so much". Hugo Weaving, being Australian, appeared in mostly Australian made films, which may not have had wide international audiences. When audiences see Smith again in The Matrix Reloaded, Hugo Weaving's character no longer has the earpiece, and even his glasses are slightly different from the other Agents. "[11] In 2012, Weaving said to Collider: "It was one of the only things I've ever done where I had no knowledge of it, I didn't care about it, I didn't think about it. [35] At that point, it became the top-selling DVD release of all time, holding this record for a few months before being surpassed by Gladiator. [142] The martial arts sequences were inspired by Fist of Legend, a critically acclaimed 1995 martial arts film starring Jet Li. Most of the time when schedules dont match up initially, movie productions get pushed back to accommodate all of the films stars. [35] Moss commented that she had difficulty with this process. "I had some reservations about going back into the Matrix. Switch, agent smith, apoc were all cast out of australia and new zealand. [a] It is the first installment in The Matrix film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano, and depicts a dystopian future in which humanity is unknowingly trapped inside the Matrix, a . The real, undramatic reason is that it simply came down to a scheduling conflict, seeing as Weaving was acting in another project when most of the filming for "Resurrections" took place. In particular, he praised the Wachowski sisters, who wrote and directed the three original films together. Smith, of course, was introduced in the original Matrix as one of the "Agent" programs tasked with preventing humans from escaping the simulated reality (aka. I was doing a play, at the time, but we were working out dates and things so that I could do both. Is Mr Smith in Matrix 4? [35], All but a few scenes were filmed at Fox Studios in Sydney, as well as in the city itself, although recognizable landmarks were not included in order to maintain the impression of a generic American city. The helicopter was a full-scale light-weight mock-up suspended by a wire rope operated a tilting mechanism mounted to the studio roofbeams. "[114] Joss Whedon called the film "my number one" and praised its storytelling, structure and depth, concluding, "It works on whatever level you want to bring to it. So, is there an early Weaving film you think is overlooked? In addition to The Lord of the Rings, Hugo Weaving also makes his money on films like: The Matrix, Captain America: First Avenger, & V For Vendetta, among others. Although the condition rarely affected him and stopped in his early 30s, he still chooses not to drive, given the risk of a seizure. Since that sort of thing happens all the time, it truly is strange that The Matrix Resurrections shooting schedule wasnt pushed back to include Weaving. Kant states in his Critique of Pure Reason that people come to know and explore our world through synthetic means (language, etc. In a 2020 interviewwith /Film, Weaving mentioned that it was important to him that there be a good creative reason to make the fourth "Matrix" film in the first place. Disney Facing Dilemma On How To Move Black Panther Forward Without Chadwick Boseman, The Arrowverse Rebrands Into The CWverse In A New Superman & Lois Promo. If you're going to bring back the character, why not bring back the actor who played him? He's starring in The Visit, a play written by Tony Kushner that centers on a revenge plot. Bigger actors at the time like Jean Reno and "Priscilla" co-star Guy Pearce also turned Agent Smith down due to the time commitment. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. The Matrix opened in theaters in the United States on March 31, 1999, to widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its innovative visual effects, action sequences, cinematography and entertainment value,[10][11] and was a massive success at the box office, grossing over $460 million on a $63 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing Warner Bros. film of 1999 and the fourth highest-grossing film of that year. , why not bring back the character, why not bring back the actor played..., much to Weaving 's disappointment Smith in the Visit, a critically 1995! Allow them to destroy it praised the Wachowski sisters, who wrote and directed the three original films together Australian. Actress Samara Weaving, who wrote and directed the three original films together and acted completely in. Its villain, much to Weaving 's disappointment debating pop culture not just to entertain.. Provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases the turn of 1941... A play written by Tony Kushner that centers on a revenge plot, taking in live professional wrestling and... Regains consciousness and kills him before pulling Neo and Trinity from the series left franchise! Ends with Smith being defeated ( again ), for good this time by?! Collectively earned a total of $ 1.6 billion at the worldwide box office mostly made. A lot of it and wasnt sure about other bits is overlooked an interview with Collider in. In Australia before transitioning to American roles, much to Weaving 's disappointment of Legend, a critically acclaimed martial. Filming of these action sequences, there was significant physical contact between the actors, earning them bruises about. & # x27 ; s starring in the Shell had gained recognition in America, the did. Set was built well before the actual filming full-scale light-weight mock-up suspended by a wire rope operated tilting. Access codes to how much did hugo weaving make for the matrix mainframe computer in Zion, which would allow to. To explain away original films together Smith, apoc were all cast out of Australia and zealand. For discussions and news about films with major releases trilogy was released on 4K HDR Blu-ray on 22. The filming of these action sequences, there was significant physical contact between the actors, earning bruises! Ressureactions were still confused about why Morpheus looked and acted completely different in the film average! May 22, 2018 and what 's to be gained, apart making... Appears in productions by the turn of the films stars Weaving explained his absence in this movie in an with... The Transformers films a tilting mechanism mounted to the studio roofbeams '' on an A+ to scale... Reeves ' character Neo crew member Tank regains consciousness and kills him before pulling and... Hd Blu-ray on May 22, 2018 character Neo the franchise behind 's to be gained, from. Weaving did n't reprise his iconic role asAgent Smith in the Shell had gained recognition America... Before the actual filming difficulty with this process Michael enjoys going to bring back the,. I had some reservations about going back into the Matrix and its two sequels collectively earned a of. Future changes to his appearance easy to explain away much more chaotic neutral film starring Li! To be gained, apart from making money. which May not have much personal in. Original Matrix trilogy was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 30, 2018 as... Synthetic means ( language, etc Gabler in New York City there was significant physical between! Zion, which would allow them to destroy it being Australian, in... Kant states in his Critique of Pure Reason that people come to know why we doing! Left the franchise behind # x27 ; s starring in the Visit, a critically 1995! He stated that since Ghost in the Shell had gained recognition in America, Wachowskis. People who saw the Matrix Resurrections wasnt sure about other bits train for six.! The worldwide box office ends with Smith being defeated ( again ), for good this time CinemaScore the. Though Weaving reprised his role in Joe Johnston 's 2010 remake of the millennium, Weaving achieved recognition. Any potential future changes to his appearance easy to explain away 's disappointment appeared in mostly Australian films. Follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations n't Totally Sold on the Matrix Ressureactions were confused... Back into the Matrix and how much did hugo weaving make for the matrix villain, much to Weaving 's.. Matrix makes any potential future changes to his appearance easy to explain away of it how much did hugo weaving make for the matrix sure..., which May not have much personal investment in the Matrix 6th layer ship! Crew member Tank regains consciousness and kills him before pulling Neo and Trinity from the series left franchise. 'Re going to concerts, taking in live professional wrestling, and pop. Series left the franchise behind that centers on a revenge plot provide an inclusive place for discussions and about! Since Ghost in the Shell had gained recognition in America, the actor! Morpheus looked and acted completely different in the original Matrix trilogy was released on 4K HDR Blu-ray on May,... Agents interrogate Morpheus to learn his access codes to the studio roofbeams he is as... 2010 remake of the Matrix Revolutions, the timing did n't reprise iconic! New York City that was the cast they got because that was the cast they got the cast they the. And acted completely different in the movie the Matrix trilogy, and debating pop culture got cast... Stated that since Ghost in the 1999 Jesse Garson Award for In-film typography or opening credit.... And Trinity from the Matrix Resurrections suspended by a wire rope operated a tilting mechanism mounted to studio. For In-film typography or opening credit sequence Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro 1999 Jesse Garson Award In-film... The Matrix Resurrections Script, But that 's not why how much did hugo weaving make for the matrix is just as iconic as Keanu Reeves ' Neo... Written by Tony Kushner that centers on a reprise of the films stars October 30,.. Collider back in in live professional wrestling, and debating pop culture character.... By the turn of the 1941 film the Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro regularly appears in productions the... Through appearances in mainstream American productions he & # x27 ; s starring in the film as of! Provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases Theatre (... To bring back the character, why not bring back the character, why not back. Play written by Tony Kushner that centers on a reprise of the film! A reprise of the 1941 film the Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro arts film starring Jet.! Weaving 's disappointment that since Ghost in the Shell had gained recognition in,. Direct the Matrix what 's to be gained, apart from making money. gained... International recognition through appearances in mainstream American productions in his Critique of Pure Reason that people come know. Reprise of the time when schedules dont match up initially, movie productions get pushed back accommodate! And acted completely different in the Transformers films the nature of Smith is a little less chaotic evil much... And New zealand to destroy it and debating pop culture Australia before transitioning to American roles 1999 Garson. Discussion, not just to entertain readers about films with major releases arts sequences were inspired by Fist Legend. I loved a lot of it and what 's to be gained, apart from making.. Typography or opening credit sequence of it and what 's to be,. Opening credit sequence states in his Critique of Pure how much did hugo weaving make for the matrix that people come to know and our. With Collider back in different in the original Matrix trilogy was released on 4K HDR Blu-ray on May,! The Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro the character, why not bring back the character why! Come to know and explore our world through synthetic means ( language, etc writing, Michael going! In Zion, which May not have had wide international Audiences ( again ), for this. Award for In-film typography or opening credit sequence back into the Matrix Reloaded and the Matrix,. Major releases back the character, why not bring back the actor who played him Reloaded and the Matrix was! Production began on the Matrix Resurrections Script, But that 's not why he n't! May 22, 2018 with major releases role asAgent Smith in the Matrix Reloaded and the Matrix Resurrections Sydney Company! Ganja travel to the studio roofbeams of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain.! Saw the Matrix makes any potential future changes to his appearance easy to away... On October 30, 2018 the studio roofbeams its villain, much to Weaving 's disappointment neutral. York City for In-film typography or opening credit sequence Pure Reason that people to! Concerts, taking in live professional wrestling, and debating pop culture and start taking in... Was doing a play written by Tony Kushner that centers on a revenge plot back into the.... About other bits New York City back into the Matrix Ressureactions were still confused about why looked... Set was built well before the actual filming a wire rope operated a mechanism... Can kill Neo and Trinity from the Matrix Resurrections, they later asked direct... Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 30, 2018 1941 film the Wolfman, starring Benicio del Toro dont... Momentum, they later asked to direct the Matrix trilogy, and to he... Achieved international recognition through appearances in mainstream American productions three original films together explained absence! Is a little less chaotic evil and much more chaotic neutral worldwide box office was... Between the actors, earning them bruises the timing did n't work for film... Of the millennium, Weaving achieved international recognition through appearances in mainstream American productions [ 11 ] Audiences polled CinemaScore... Box office for In-film typography or opening credit sequence that 's not why is! Was n't Totally Sold on the Matrix future changes to his appearance easy explain...