Will Laurence Fishburne return as Morpheus in Matrix 5? Here’s what the actor said

The Matrix 5 is officially in the works, but Laurence Fishburne might not reprise his role of Morpheus in it. Fishburne recently shared some details when he appeared on The View to promote The Amateaur, a spy thriller where he stars alongside Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Rachel Brosnahan (Superman). While it is on its way to the cinemas, The Matrix fans are wondering whether Fishburne will return to their beloved franchise. After all, he wasn't a part of Matrix 4.

“I have not been invited. Maybe that will make me write another play. I wish them well. I hope it’s great," Fishburne told The Wrap about this when The Matrix Resurrections was about to hit the theaters.

He referred to his experience during his appearance on The View.

"I offered my services to the fourth Matrix, and they didn't respond well to that. It's not like I didn't say, 'Oh, I'd like to offer my services.' I did, and for whatever reason, that didn't happen, OK. That's the truth. So we'll see."

Although Fishburne did not appear in the fourth film, the fans might be looking forward to seeing him on screen again in The Matrix 5. Fishburne has some conditions on what will make him reprise his role.

"It depends on the circumstances, who is involved, how well the script has been written, if they offer me."

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Laurence Fishburne's thoughts on The Matrix trilogy in the wake of The Matrix 5 announcement

The Matrix 5 may not have Laurence Fishburne's iconic Morpheus, but that doesn't make him any less of a fan of this franchise. Much like the fans, he understands its scope and philosophical depth. In line with this, he once told The Wrap,

“[Morpheus] is probably the role that I’ll be best remembered for, which is great; it’s not the only thing I’ll be remembered for, which is better. What I get with him is I’ve got Darth Vader in this hand, and I’ve got Obi-Wan in that hand. I’ve got Bruce Lee, I’ve got Muhammad Ali shuffled in there, and I’ve got kung fu."

He further added,

“It’s the old story in a modern context. It’s the One, the Christ, the Buddha, the Godhead, the fully realized being told through the digital age.”

The 2021 film starred Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as an iteration of Laurence Fishburne's character. At the time, the actor spoke with Entertainment Weekly about this challenging role.

"I looked at that as an opportunity to create a character with some freedom and expression and to really find out what it was that I, as Morpheus, liked about myself and what I had to contribute to the world and what I had to say in this universe."

Matrix 5 has not yet received a release date.