Jessica Henwick, one of the stars of the highly anticipated fourthMatrixfilm,The Matrix: Resurrections, recently discussed her role in the film. In the interview, she talked about everything from the grueling training for the film’s action sequences to director Lana Wachowski’s unorthodox approach to filmmaking.
InThe Matrix 4, Henwick plays a mysterious new character named Bugs. She can be seen in the trailers fighting alongside co-starYahya Abdul-Mateen II. Not much is known about her character, other than she appears to be leading Neo (Keanu Reeves) on a new journey. She also stands out for her unique appearance, which includes a symbolic white rabbit tattoo and a stylish blue hairdo, which Henwick called a “nightmare” to manage.
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When asked aboutThe Matrix Resurrections' many actions scenes, Henwick said to Collider, “I had to give it my all. I devoted myself to it. We trained pretty hard in the run-up and we kept training all the way through filming. When we were shut down for COVID and we went off three months, I still was at home training every day, even though we didn’t know if we were going back.” She also revealed that after they were shut down, Wachowski almost walked away from the film. Paraphrasing the director, Henwick said, ‘Well, maybe that’s it. Maybe we won’t come back and film the rest of it. Maybe the newMatrixwill go down as this legendary film which incomplete, and no one will ever be able to see it. Maybe that’s what this is meant to be."
Thankfully, Wachowski and her team wereable to completeThe Matrix 4in time for its December release date. Henwick also discussed the director’s instinctive approach to shooting scenes, saying that she likes to keep the camera rolling for as long as 20-minutes at a time, rather than set up multiple shots .“She doesn’t work like any of the directors I’ve worked with.” Henwick said “She would stand next to the operator and she would be shooting. Keanu is speaking and she’s shooting. She’s handling the camera, zooming in on him, and then she would just turn, and suddenly the camera will be on you, even though you’re on the other side of the line. It’s very much how she feels in the moment.”
This is certainly a unique approach to shooting any film, let alone one with so many carefully choreographed scenes. Hopefully, this will allowThe Matrix: Resurrectionsto stand out in the current landscape of big-budget blockbuster films.
Wachowski makes up one-half of the original sibling filmmaking duo responsible for writing and directing all three of the previousMatrixfilms. She’s also known for her work on films such asJupiter Ascending,Speed Racer,and the ambitiousCloud Atlas.Before being cast inThe Matrix: Resurrections,Henwick was known for her role in theHBO fantasy seriesGame of Thronesand as an X-wing fighter pilot inStar Wars: The Force Awakens.
The Matrix: Resurrectionspremiere’s in theatres and on HBO Max on December 22nd, 2021.
