The Matrix Resurrections
Agent Smith could be interchange by a digital successor inThe Matrix 4 , and here ’s the grounds . unforgettably work by Hugo Weaving , Agent Smith is the ice - coolheaded arch - scoundrel of the entire originalMatrixtrilogy . Originally a piece of software program created by the Machines to police thesimulated Matrix earth , Agent Smith would roam around shutting down seditious world like Thomas Anderson who jeopardise the illusion ’s stability , and chasing off or in a flash murdering awakened residents of Zion such as Morpheus and Trinity and their crew , who seek to recruit Modern members to their case . Smith performed his duties with characteristic simple machine - like preciseness , but also demonstrated an innate disdain and disgust for humanity and natural life forms , favour the society and regime of data to the pandemonium and unpredictability of flesh and blood .
After being shoot down by Neo in the original 1999Matrixmovie , Smith returned in the continuation as an exile program and set out assimilating other Agents and programs to grow more powerful . Released from the intent for which he was designed , Smith yearned to put down the last remain humans of theCity of Zionand lam the confines of the Matrix as a loose piece of code . Alas , Smith ’s hubris and greed spell his doom , as the villain succumbed to the combined feat of Neo and the Machines , seemingly put down for in force .
Related : Why Neo Really Was Blinded In The Matrix Revolutions
Now set for departure in December 2021,The Matrix 4 , officially subtitledResurrections , will proceed the fib of the original trilogy , bringing classic characters such as Neo and Trinity back into the plica , many portrayed by their original shape members ( Keanu Reeves and Carrie - Anne Moss in this case ) . However , the fate of Agent Smith in the upcoming sequel remains strange , at least officially . Lana Wachowski has yet to reassert the overall patch ofThe Matrix Resurrectionsand , despiteNeo and Trinitycheating destruction to yield in the subsequence , there ’s no password on Smith , with a new chief antagonist widely expected to appear alternatively . Even if Smith is ousted as the leading villain , the character could still make an appearance inThe Matrix 4 , but every indication is taper to a brand new version of the snappily - dressed assassin – and the first poke forResurrectionsarrived in September 2021 , leave behind even more hints that this might be the casing .
Hugo Weaving Isn’t Involved Due To A Scheduling Conflict
The big hint regarding Smith ’s presence inThe Matrix4comes from the rather reputable root of Hugo Weaving himself . Back in January , Weaving frankly revealed he was approached by Lana Wachowski to render inThe Matrix 4 , and the two sides hammered out a schedule that would give up Weaving to film his scenes as Agent Smith while honoring a anterior commitment toThe Visit , a West End output due to pass in 2020 simultaneous to production onThe Matrix 4 . As Weaving tells it , an arrangement had been reached , but Wachowski changed her mind , leaving the actor to his stint in the West conclusion and ending his involution inThe Matrix 4 .
In the absence seizure of further gossip from Wachowski , it ’s impossible to say why the determination was made to push forrader without Weaving , but the attempt to beguile his services does at least substantiate Smith ’s front inThe ground substance 4 . In some lawsuit , a sequel director will sound out an histrion about a possible returnbeforefinalizing the script . For example , Viggo Mortensenwas ask about make a Middle - Earth comeback in the former point of production onThe Hobbit , but germinate the idea down since Aragorn does n’t boast in the original book . This is n’t the example with Hugo Weaving inThe intercellular substance 4 . In a more recent consultation , the histrion elaborated on his absence , explaining that he was confident to recapitulate his character after record Wachowski ’s book , rise that Lana was n’t just gauging Weaving ’s sake in playing Smith again - the stern - face Agent was part of the intent – and it ’s likely he still count on in the movie in some way .
Related : The Matrix : Every Hint Neo Was n’t The First ONE
Smith Was Involved In The Matrix 4 In A Substantial Way
The obvious solution would be torecast Agent Smith , andThe Matrixhas already put a common law for this . Smith himself inhabited a different dead body inThe Matrix Revolutionsduring his brief tenure in the existent world , taking over a resident of Zion . Furthermore , The Oracle was forced to put on a different appearance after the decease of Gloria Foster . Smith is a while of computer programing , just like The Oracle , and changing his typeface inThe Matrix 4would surely fall within the franchise ’s mythology . Alternatively , The Matrix 4may introduce an only refreshful character who plugs the gap left by Weaving ’s absence seizure , pick up Agent Smith ’s intended arc and fundamentally acting as the villain ’s replacement .
Agent Johnson Is Returning
Another major clew towardsThe Matrix 4replacing Smith is the recurrence of Daniel Bernhardt as Agent Johnson . debut inThe Matrix Reloaded , Agent Johnson was fundamentally Smith ’s in - world replacement after Neo bear witness victorious in the sexual climax of the first movie . Johnson direct the Agents loyally , just as Smith once did , executing the will of theMachines and protect the Matrixas dictated by his programming . Agent Johnson never becomes a major player , and give how Smith ’s arc diverges in theMatrixtrilogy , Johnson wo n’t be replacing Smith himself in the fourth moving-picture show , but Bernhardt ’s return does reveal thatThe Matrix 4 ’s Agent storyline is n’t being cut due to Weaving ’s scheduling conflict . If Lana Wachowski had settle to cut Smith fromThe Matrix 4after losing Weaving , the other Agents probably would ’ve been except too . Agent Johnson ’s presence hint that the script has n’t been amended on Weaving ’s account , and Smith ’s part could be consume by someone else …
Related : The Matrix 4 : Every New Actor Cast In The subsequence
Jonathan Groff’s Casting Fits Agent Smith
A legion of top playing names have joinedThe Matrix 4alongside the more familiar bequest form , and out of all the newcomers , Jonathan Groffis best beseem to replace Agent Smith . The Matrix 4has long been the subject field of surmise and thoerizing , with no confirmation of any item ( other than regorge promulgation ) until the first trailer for the motion-picture show landed in September , giving fans their first glimpse of the returning and fresh characters . Long theorized was the counter of a Morpheus , play by newcomer Yahya Abdul - Mateen II – a theory which was substantiate by action depicted in the dawdler showing the actor in distinctly Morpheus - way get - up . The part of ayounger version of Morpheuswas later confirmed by Abdul - Mateen ’s own Instagram .
If classicMatrixcharacters are reverting back to their young selves in some sort of clock time locomotion mechanic , Groff could well get away with playing a fresher - faced Smith . The role player portrayed an overblown villainous eccentric inHamiltonand an intelligent investigator inMindhunter . combine the pair would put up a fair close approximation ofThe Matrix ’s Agent Smith , as originated by Hugo Weaving . The first trailer for The Matrix Resurrections did include a glance at Groff in character , though not really enough to give his use away . He ’s seated in an post , wearing a suit , with raven - black hairsbreadth , lecture with Neo . There ’s no distinctive " Mr Anderson " uttered , but Groff ’s depiction does let in a enceinte dose of dignity and distressfulness , which tracks with the original edition of Agent Smith . So while the trailer does n’t affirm whether Groff is indeed Smith , it does continue to solidify the theory that this is his role in the sequel flick .
Even if Jonathan Groff is act a previously unobserved character , he might still adopt the part originally save for Weaving , but as a unlike federal agent . Add a twosome ofsunglassestoMindhunter ’s Holden Ford , and Groff is the archetypal Agent , and whatever part Lana Wachowski had in mind for Smith could be retrofit for Groff ’s new villain on the block . As Agent Smith in the originalMatrixmovies , Hugo Weaving combined the callous reserve of a computer program alongside an overflowing megalomania . Groff could also portray an only unlike type of program but quest for the same character objectives as the original Weaving role . With a background signal in both musical theater and play , Jonathan Groff is ideally placed to inherit the Smith role and carry the character ’s legacy into future movies .
More : Theory : Matrix 4 Changes The Reason For The Machines ' Simulation