It has long been known that Matrix alum Hugo Weaving would not be reprising his role as Agent Smith for the upcoming fourth film due to scheduling conflicts. However, Weaving has now revealed that it was director Lana Wachowski who made the decision to "pull the plog" on negotiations for his return, as she believed Weaving's commitments to London's National Theatre wouldn't fit in with the shooting dates she had in mind for him.
"Lana Wachowski had rung me at the beginning of last year," Weaving said in an interview with ComingSoon.net. "We've worked together five times, the Wachowskis and I on three Matrix films, V for Vendetta and Cloud Atlas. I've hung out with them all over the world for many, many years. So, yes, Lana was very keen for me to be involved in The Matrix. There was a reading with Keanu [Reeves], Carrie[-Anne Moss] and myself and a few others from the old family."
Weaving admits he had reservations about returning for The Matrix 4, as he had mixed feelings about its script, saying that he "loved a lot of it and wasn't sure about other bits." Still, Weaving initially did agree to reprise his role as Agent Smith. "Ultimately, we talked about it and when the offer came through to do it for Warner's I said yes the next day and I talked to Lana," he said.
Weaving was scheduled to work the National Theatre from November to April. However, Wachowski wanted Weaving to shoot his scenes from February until May."I thought we could have done my scenes in May, June and July; and we talked about money and we talked about -- they were negotiating," Weaving shared. "And we were all pretty much sorted and agreed on dates and it was all fine, but then Lana decided she didn't think it was going to work. So, she pulled the plug on the negotiations. That's where it ended up. She basically didn't feel that my commitment to the National Theatre was going to fit in with the dates that she had in mind for me." While Weaving is disappointed that he will not be returning as Agent Smith in The Matrix 4, he says he does look forward to seeing the film.
Directed by Lana Wachowski, The Matrix 4 stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick and Jonathan Groff. The film arrives in theaters April 1, 2022.