The Matrix Resurrections stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss revealed why Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are missing from the upcoming sequel.

Speaking to Unilad, Reeves admitted he felt the loss of his former co-stars from the original Matrix trilogy, but the plot of the latest sequel called for their absence. "Speaking with [director] Lana [Wachowski] about that... it was just creatively where she wanted to go with the production and the story," he said. "Yeah, we love Hugo and Lawrence, and we thought about them all the time."

RELATED: Matrix 4: Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann-Moss' Skyscraper Leap Isn't CG, Took 20 Takes

Moss added, "It's hard not to think about them, because they're so much a part of it. I love both of them, and they're both so talented and such great people. But, there's an evolution that happened for Lana with the story, and we're here serving that, you know?"

Resurrections will introduce a younger version of Fishburne's Morpheus, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who recently explained he's portraying "a different iteration of the character." He added, "Laurence already did what had to be done. I think what the [Resurrections] script provided was a new narrative and some new opportunities that did make room within the Matrix universe for a new Morpheus."

RELATED: Keanu Reeves Reveals Why He Agreed to Return for Matrix Resurrections

Fishburne previously weighed in on the matter, saying in an interview he wasn't sure why he wasn't invited back for the fourth installment alongside Reeves and Moss. "You'd have to ask [Matrix 4 director] Lana Wachowski why because I don't have an answer for that," he said. Unlike Fishburne, Weaving had been in talks to reprise his role as Agent Smith for Resurrections, but the actor explained last year that Wachowski "pulled the plug on the negotiations" when scheduling conflicts arose.

Despite being physically absent from the sequel, Fishburne and Weaving still make appearances of sorts. In a recently-released clip from Resurrections, footage of Fishburne's Morpheus plays on a movie screen while Reeves' Neo is introduced to Abdul-Mateen's version of the character. The latest Resurrections trailer also includes footage of Weaving's Agent Smith, but similarly to the way Fishburne reemerges, it appears to be a shot from a previous installment in the franchise.

The final Resurrections trailer all but confirm rumors that franchise newcomer Jonathan Groff will be replacing Weaving as Agent Smith. Groff recently admitted he "cried" while reading the script for Resurrections, noting that seeing Neo and Trinity "coming back and fighting to have their love again just wrecked me."

The Matrix Resurrections arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on Dec. 22.

KEEP READING: Matrix Resurrections' Keanu Reeves Doesn't Care if You Choose HBO Max or Theaters

Source: Unilad