Hobbs & Shaw director David Leitch got his start as a second-unit director and stunt coordinator on the original Matrix sequels, and Leitch says that he would jump at the chance to work on the upcoming The Matrix 4 movie. The untitled Matrix sequel will feature original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity. So far, a release date has not yet been confirmed.

The groundbreaking first Matrix movie stunned audiences by combining never-before-seen special effects with a science-fiction take on the hero’s journey. When the film hit theaters in 1999, sibling directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski were hailed as promising visionaries. However, audiences reacted less positively to The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. For the fourth feature film in the franchise, Lana Wachowski will be directing without her sister, who has stepped away from science-fiction entertainment since 2016.

ComingSoon.net spoke to Leitch for the home video release of Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. The young director got his start directing and coordinating action sequences for blockbuster films such as the Matrix sequels, Blade, and Fight Club. He also worked on cult-favorites like Orgazmo and BASEketball. Today, Leitch directs big-budget feature films like Hobbs & Shaw; however, he also told ComingSoon.net that his work is directly inspired by his time on-set with the Wachowski siblings. In fact, the climactic fight sequence in Hobbs & Shaw even contains subtle allusions to the iconic Matrix action sequences. As a result, Leitch said that he would be willing to help with absolutely anything Lana Wachowski needed while shooting The Matrix 4 sequel.

The Matrix didn’t just influence directors like Leitch. The Matrix franchise has also had a major influence on pop culture in general. Decades later, terms like “take the red pill” and “bend the spoon” are still in wide usage, and the 1999 film’s bullet-time action sequences were iconic developments in the history of special effects. Unfortunately, the Wachowski siblings later work has often left audiences disappointed.

“If Lana called and wanted me to do anything on that movie, I would come, I’d carry a c-stand or sandbags…I loved working with her and I loved working with her sister and I feel like I owe so much of my filmmaking background to working on not only the Matrix movies, but also Speed Racer, Ninja Assassin. They were great mentors to me, so if they call I’ll be there. Catering [even]!”

In 2015, the Wachowskis released the ambitious science-fiction movie Jupiter Ascending. At the time, most studios were investing in reboots, adaptations, and sequels, and the Wachowski sisters’ original sci-fi adventure was a bust. The film has a 27% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Even though the Matrix sequels have their fans, most critics and viewers agree that the sequels failed to live up to the original Matrix.

However, The Matrix 4 may hit the reset button on the entire franchise. Because both Neo and Trinity died in The Matrix Revolutions, most fans expect the new movie to play with time. Rumors that Lana Wachowski is looking for an actor to play a young Morpheus seem to back up these fan theories. If true, The Matrix 4 could be the sequel Matrix fans have been waiting for for 20 years.

More: 5 Reasons We’re Worried About The Matrix 4 (And 5 Why It Could Be Great)

Source: ComingSoon.net