History Trivia / TheMatrix

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/CarrieAnneMoss, who was almost completely unknown before she became Trinity. Creator/LaurenceFishburne, Creator/HugoWeaving, and Creator/MonicaBellucci, meanwhile, went from semi-obscure straight into the mainstream after this movie. For Creator/KeanuReeves, however, this was more of a [[TypeCasting Type-Cementing Role]].

** Originally, Creator/WillSmith was offered the role of Neo, but turned it down for ''Film/WildWildWest''. Smith explained his decision in 2004, in an interview with ''Wired'':

* ActorAllusion

* BeamMeUpScotty

* NamesTheSame: Cypher, no relation to the [[ComicBook/NewMutants New Mutants]] character, Link, no relation to the protagonist of ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', Morpheus, named after the [[Characters/ClassicalMythologyMinorDeities mythological figure]] related to dreams, not to be confused with the protagonist of Creator/NeilGaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', and The Matrix, the name for cyberspace in Creator/WilliamGibson's ''Literature/{{Neuromancer}}''.

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/CarrieAnneMoss, who was almost completely unknown before she became Trinity. Creator/LaurenceFishburne, Creator/HugoWeaving, and Creator/MonicaBellucci, meanwhile, went from semi-obscure straight into the mainstream after this movie. For Creator/KeanuReeves, however, this was more of a [[TypeCasting Type-Cementing Role.]]
* ThrowItIn: After the lobby shootout, the camera pans back showing the aftermath of the gunfight in the lobby. During this a piece of one of the pillars falls off. This happened by coincidence during the filming and was not planned, but was left since it seemed appropriate.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen
** Originally, Creator/WillSmith was offered the role of Neo, but turned it down for ''Film/WildWildWest''. Smith explained his decision in 2004, in an interview with ''Wired'':

** Creator/SandraBullock turned down the role of Trinity because she couldn’t see herself acting alongside the actor the studio intended to play Neo. This was before Reeves (her costar from the 1994 hit ''Film/{{Speed}}'') was cast. She later regretted this decision. Music/JanetJackson was initially approached for the role of Trinity but scheduling conflicts prevented her from accepting it. In an interview, she stated that turning down the role was difficult for her, so she later referenced the film in the “Intro” and “Outro” interludes on her tenth studio album ''Discipline''. Creator/MichelleYeoh was also considered for Trinity, as was Creator/GillianAnderson.

** The “mental projection” of the Matrix would have been plot-relevant, with Switch (the butch blonde woman and only other woman in the crew besides Trinity) appearing female in the Matrix, but [[{{Transgender}} male in the real world.]]

** To prepare for the scene in which Neo wakes up in a pod, Creator/KeanuReeves lost 15 pounds and shaved his whole body to give Neo an emaciated look.

** The Wachowskis wanted Creator/JohnnyDepp for Neo, while Creator/WarnerBros wanted either Creator/BradPitt or Creator/ValKilmer. Creator/EwanMcGregor turned down the role of Neo, as he was filming ''Franchise/StarWars Episode I: Film/ThePhantomMenace''. Creator/DavidDuchovny turned down the role of Neo to make ''Film/TheXFilesFightTheFuture''. Creator/NicolasCage turned down the part of Neo because of family commitments. Creator/TomCruise was also considered. Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio turned it down, supposedly because he was concerned about the amount of special effects.

** The “mental projection” of the Matrix would have been plot-relevant, with Switch (the butch blonde woman and only other woman in the crew besides Trinity) appearing as a woman in the Matrix, but [[WholesomeCrossdresser a man in the real world.]]

* ActorAllusion:

* CreatorBacklash: An oddly specific example: Armorer John Bowring hated the Wachowski's choice of the [[RareGuns Desert]] [[HandCannon Eagle]] as the weapons of the Agents, deriding it as a "wanker's gun".

* HireTheCritic: For ''The Ultimate Matrix Collection'', the filmmakers included two [[AlternateDVDCommentary Alternate DVD Commentaries]], one by philosophers who loved the movies, and one by critics who hated them.
* KillerApp: ''The Matrix'' was this for the UsefulNotes/{{DVD}} format.

** SoYouWantTo.DevelopCharacterPersonality (2nd image)

** Joe Pantoliano lying about a car accident in a movie directed by Creator/TheWachowskis … [[Film/Bound1996 why is that so familiar?]]

* ''Trivia/TheAnimatrix''

** Joe Pantoliano lying about a car accident in a movie directed by the Wachowskis ... [[Film/{{Bound 1996}} why is that so familiar]]?.

** [[MemeticMutation What if I told you]] Morpheus never actually says "What if I told you…"? The origin of this meme stems from a simple jab at the film's [[ItWasHisSled twist]], which featured a photo of Morpheus simply asking "What if I told you … The Matrix is all inside a computer?" Since then, people have just taken it from there.
** One of Agent Smith's more famous quotes is often written as "But Mr. Anderson, how can you make a phone call when you cannot speak?" or something similar. The actual line is "Tell me, Mr. Anderson, what good is a phone call if you're unable … to speak?"
* DevelopmentGag: A deleted subplot from ''Film/TheMatrix'' reveals that Morpheus has previously believed five other people to be The One, all who died after attempting to fight the Agents. In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'', [[spoiler:the Architect explains that there have been five previous versions of the Matrix before the current one, each with its own version of the One, meaning that Neo again has five predecessors.]]
* DoingItForTheArt: While watching the "Lady in the Red Dress" scene, you might notice the same people are passing Neo and Morpheus more than once. Production goof? Nope! All the extras in the scene are ''actual twins''. The Wachowskis scoured UsefulNotes/{{Sydney}} for identical twins and brought them in to create the impression that Mouse got so lazy while writing the Agent Training Program that [[YouAllLookFamiliar he made half the crowd, then copy-pasted the models and gave the copies new clothes]], instead of making unique ones. Did you notice that... or were you [[DistractedByTheSexy looking at the woman in the red dress]]?
* DyeingForYourArt[=/=]ImportantHaircut: "Spoonboy's" mum was ''very'' reluctant to have his beautiful locks shaved off.

* EditedForSyndication: Basic cable cuts of the film frequently substitute "Shucks" or "Smokes" for "Shit", and change Neo's line in the interrogation room scene to "How about I give you a flipper?", while completely cutting the actual [[FlippingTheBird middle finger]] (and, by consequence, the "You give me my phone call" part of the line). Also "Jeepers creepers (originally "Jesus Christ"), that thing's ''real''?!!!"
** The Creator/{{AMC}} edit, in particular, changes one line to "I'll bring that whole cockamamy (originally "goddamn") building down".

** Creator/HugoWeaving puts on a fake American accent.

* KillerApp: The Matrix was this for the {{DVD}} format.
* RecycledSet: Sets from ''Film/DarkCity'' (1998), including rooftops, buildings and others exteriors sets, were used in this film. The rooftops that Trinity runs across at the beginning of the film are the same ones that John Murdoch runs across in ''Dark City''.
* StarMakingRole: For Creator/CarrieAnneMoss, who was almost completely unknown before she became Trinity. Creator/LaurenceFishburne, Creator/HugoWeaving, and Creator/MonicaBellucci, meanwhile, went from semi-obscure straight into the mainstream after this movie. For Creator/KeanuReeves however, this was more of a [[TypeCasting Type-Cementing Role]].
* ThrowItIn: After the lobby shootout, the camera pans back showing the aftermath of the gunfight in the lobby. During this a piece of one of the pillars falls off. This happened by coincidence during the filming and was not planned, but was left since it seemed appropriate.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Originally, Creator/WillSmith was offered the role of Neo, but turned it down for his part in ''Film/WildWildWest''. Smith explained his decision in 2004, in an interview in ''Wired'':
--> "You know, ''The Matrix'' is a difficult concept to pitch. In the pitch, I just didn't see it. I watched Keanu's performance –- and very rarely do I say this –- but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up ''The Matrix''."
** Creator/TheWachowskis wanted Creator/JohnnyDepp for Neo, while Warner Bros. wanted either Creator/BradPitt or Creator/ValKilmer. Creator/EwanMcGregor turned down the role of Neo, as he was filming ''Film/StarWarsEpisodeIThePhantomMenace''. Creator/DavidDuchovny turned down the role of Neo in order to star in ''Film/TheXFilesFightTheFuture''. Creator/NicolasCage turned down the part of Neo because of family commitments. Creator/TomCruise was also considered. Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio turned it down, supposedly because he was concerned about the amount of special effects.
** Creator/GaryOldman and Creator/SamuelLJackson were considered for Morpheus. Also, Creator/ChowYunFat was offered the role of Morpheus, but turned it down. Creator/RussellCrowe also turned down the role of Morpheus. He said: "I just didn't get it. I couldn't get past page 42. That world was just not interesting to me".
** Creator/SandraBullock turned down the role of Trinity because she couldn't see herself acting alongside the actor the studio intended to play the role as Neo. This was before Reeves was cast. She later regretted this decision. Music/JanetJackson was initially approached for the role of Trinity but scheduling conflicts prevented her from accepting it. In an interview, she stated that turning down the role was difficult for her, so she later referenced the film in the 'Intro' and 'Outro' interludes on her tenth studio album ''Discipline''. Creator/MichelleYeoh was also considered for Trinity, as was Creator/GillianAnderson.
** Creator/JeanReno was approached to play Agent Smith. He turned it down and took a role in ''Film/{{Godzilla1998}}'' instead. He was also unwilling to move to Australia.
** Early drafts of the original film's script contain a number of things that were arguably changed for the ''better''. One such detail is the climax having [[spoiler:Neo [[FlippingTheBird flipping off Smith]] after being revived, and Smith helplessly lets out a BigNo as Neo escapes]].
** The "mental projection" of the Matrix would have been plot-relevant, with Switch (the butch blonde woman and only other woman in the crew besides Trinity) appearing as a woman in the Matrix, but [[WholesomeCrossdresser a man in the real world]].
* WordOfGod: The Wachowskis have stated that Cypher hacked into the Matrix on his own without the help of the Nebuchadnezzar crew. [[spoiler:This explains how he could have arranged a meeting with the Agents.]]

!!This film series has [[TropeNamers named the following tropes]]:

** Creator/SandraBullock turned down the role of Trinity because she couldn't see herself acting alongside the actor the studio intended to play the role as Neo. This was before Reeves was cast. She later regretted this decision. Music/JanetJackson was initially approached for the role of Trinity but scheduling conflicts prevented her from accepting it. In an interview, she stated that turning down the role was difficult for her, so she later referenced the film in the 'Intro' and 'Outro' interludes on her tenth studio album Discipline. Creator/MichelleYeoh was also considered for Trinity, as was Creator/GillianAnderson.

** Originally, Creator/WillSmith was offered the role of Neo, but turned it down for his part in ''Film/WildWildWest''. Smith explained his decision in 2004, in an interview in ''Wired'': "You know, ''The Matrix'' is a difficult concept to pitch. In the pitch, I just didn't see it. I watched Keanu's performance –- and very rarely do I say this –- but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up ''The Matrix''."
** Creator/TheWachowskis wanted Creator/JohnnyDepp for Neo, while Warner Bros. wanted either Creator/BradPitt or Creator/ValKilmer.
** Creator/EwanMcGregor turned down the role of Neo, as he was filming ''Film/StarWarsEpisodeIThePhantomMenace''.
** Creator/DavidDuchovny turned down the role of Neo in order to star in ''Film/TheXFilesFightTheFuture''. Creator/GillianAnderson was offered the role of Trinity.
** Also, Creator/ChowYunFat was offered the role of Morpheus, but turned it down.
** Creator/NicolasCage turned down the part of Neo because of family commitments. Creator/TomCruise was also considered. Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio turned it down, supposedly because he was concerned about the amount of special effects.
** Creator/GaryOldman and Creator/SamuelLJackson were considered for Morpheus.
** Creator/RussellCrowe turned down the role of Morpheus. He said:
--> "I just didn't get it. I couldn't get past page 42. That world was just not interesting to me".
** Creator/SandraBullock turned down the role of Trinity because she couldn't see herself acting alongside the actor the studio intended to play the role as Neo. This was before Reeves was cast. She later regretted this decision.
** Music/JanetJackson was initially approached for the role of Trinity but scheduling conflicts prevented her from accepting it. In an interview, she stated that turning down the role was difficult for her, so she later referenced the film in the 'Intro' and 'Outro' interludes on her tenth studio album Discipline.
** Creator/MichelleYeoh was considered for Trinity.

** The "mental projection" of the Matrix would have been plot-relevant, with Switch (the butch blonde woman and only other woman in the crew besides Trinity) appearing as a woman in the Matrix, but [[WholesomeCrossdresser a man in the real world]]. This is perhaps mirrored by Lana (formerly known as Larry) Wachowski coming out as a transgender woman in 2012, as well as Lilly (formerly Andy) Wachowski who came out in 2016.
** The Wachowskis were given the choice between making the ''Matrix'' sequels or ''Film/BatmanBegins''. Imagine that…
** Creator/JetLi and Creator/MichelleYeoh were initially offered the role of Seraph; Li, whom the role was written for, asked for an equal salary to Reeves' and didn't get it, while Yeoh had scheduling conflicts.
** Creator/SeanConnery turned down the role of the Architect, as he didn't fully understand the concept of the film. Probably for the better, as [[IAmNotLeonardNimoy his presence in the role would have been far too distracting]].
** R&B superstar Music/{{Aaliyah}} was initially cast as Zee, which was to have been her big acting break; tragically, she [[AuthorExistenceFailure died in a plane crash]] in the midst of filming, and had to be replaced by Nona Gaye.
** Persistent but unconfirmed rumors state that ''Reloaded'' and ''Revolutions'' were originally planned as one 3-hour long film, with both being padded out when the decision was made to make two films.
** Early drafts of the original film's script contain a number of things that were arguably changed for the ''better''. Such as the climax having [[spoiler:Neo stand back up and [[FlippingTheBird flipping off Smith]], who helplessly lets out a BigNo as Neo escapes]].
* WordOfGod: The Wachowskis have stated that Cypher hacked into the matrix on his own without the help of the Nebuchadnezar crew. [[spoiler:This explains how he could have arranged a meeting with the Agents.]]

** Also, Creator/ChowYunfat was offered the role of Morpheus, but turned it down.

** Creator/JetLi and Creator/MichelleYeoh were initially offered the role of Seraph; Li, who the role was written for, asked for an equal salary to Reeves' and didn't get it, while Yeoh had scheduling conflicts.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Dropping the original idea of HumanResources being a vast neural net for the more literal concept of human Duracell batteries because ViewersAreMorons. Giving all the other stuff that has to be explained (or not) in this trilogy, one wonders why this idea was so difficult to put across.

* DoingItForTheArt: While watching the "Lady in the Red Dress" scene, you might notice the same people are passing Neo and Morpheus more than once. Production goof? Nope! All the extras in the scene are ''actual twins''. The Wachowskis scoured UsefulNotes/{{Sydney}} for identical twins and brought them in to create the impression that Mouse got so lazy while writing the Agent Training Program that [[YouAllLookFamiliar he made half the crowd, then copy-pasted the models and gave the copies new clothes]], instead of making unique ones. Did you notice that... or were you [[DistractedByTheSexy staring at the lady in the red dress]]?

* CaliforniaDoubling: The movie was mostly filmed in Sydney.

** Joe Pantoliano lying about a car accident in a movie directed by the Wachowskis ... [[Film/{{Bound 1996}} why is that so familiar]]?
** Monica Bellucci stands in front of a TV playing ''Film/TheBridesOfDracula'' when she pulls a gun on her henchmen in ''Reloaded''. Monica was one of the vampire brides in ''Film/BramStokersDracula''.

* CreatorCameo: Creator/TheWachowskis are the window cleaners in the scene where Thomas Anderson is being chewed out by his boss.