This topic is realtive Matrix 2 & 3 making.Please look out "(*** Spoilers ***)" in the title. And all of news items are here.

The return of Cypher in Matrix 2? What are those wacky and wonderful Wachowski brothers up to?

According to our latest scooper, actor Joe Pantoliano (whose latest film Memento opens in theaters today) is returning for some kind of cameo appearance in the sequels!

"Joe Pantaliano was on our local UPN affiliate's newscast, KMSP Channel 9, talking mostly about his role in The Sopranos, but he also dropped the news that he will have a day of shooting in The Matrix 2. Apparently the Wachowski Bros are a superstitious lot and consider him their goodluck charm." ['Delerium' got it to us first.]

A quick Web search reveals that KMSP is based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. Now, all we have to do is confirm this report as legit, but something to keep in mind is that Pantoliano has always maintained he'd be back for the sequel. We never took it seriously because, after all, his character Cypher fried and died at the hands of a vengeful Tank in the first film. So how's Joey P. going to come back for the second flick, even in just a cameo?

The cast and crew of the "Matrix" sequel conducted a Buddhist ceremony in front of the California State Building in Oakland on their first day of filming Monday. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne were among those chanting prayers as they rolled and lit rice paper to throw into a pyre. They all put their hands on a large knife and plunged it through a barbecued pig. All of this was meant to bring them luck on the shoot, which continues in the East Bay for 12 weeks before relocating in Australia. With grosses of almost $400 million on the first "Matrix," the ceremony may have been superfluous, but at least they got a hearty lunch out of it. .

Secrecy surrounds Matrix sequels

The makers of Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix are to return to Sydney to produce two sequels.

Warner Bros Pictures announced today that the makers of the Academy Award-winning film had chosen to return to Fox Studios for the sequels.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said the announcement ended months of industry speculation over where the sequels would be shot.

``Speculation has been rife for at least 12 months about where these films would be made,'' he said.

``We were competing against Canada, the UK and the United States ... and Warner Bros have come back for more.''

The Matrix was the first big international production made at the former Sydney Showground site and featured many scenes shot in and around central Sydney.

The movie has grossed about $A1 billion - the highest worldwide box office takings for any Warner Bros release.

Mr Carr said the two films would create about 1,050 direct jobs and another 1,000 indirect jobs. There would also be about 7,000 days of work for film extras.

He conceded the low Australian dollar would have helped sway the film-makers' decision.

Preliminary filming of the Matrix sequels began this week in Los Angeles.

Filming in Sydney will begin in October and run for nine months.

Warner Bros worldwide production president Lorenzo di Bonaventura said The Matrix crew had had a ``terrific'' experience in Sydney during work on the first film.

``We look forward to returning to the state-of-the-art facilities and incredible locations in Sydney to shoot the sequels,'' he said in a statement.

Neo, Trinity and Morpheus' Car in MATRIX 2?
Hey folks, Harry here with JonnyGT here with what he believes to be the mysterious car that Neo and crew will be driving in the MATRIX sequel... Now this isn't confirmed yet, but I've been hearing this alot... might just be wishful speculation, but all I know is if I were Neo, I'd be driving this baby cuz it just is suhweet... Take a look and pick me up one for my birthday or christmas... or even better an UNBIRTHDAY SOON!!! Heheheh, damn that's a fine looking car.... EMERGENCY UPDATE - The car in MATRIX that is being driven by the good guys is a Cadillac Catera 5-seat sedan... Morpheus and Trinity are in this Catera... Now the car below and the Catera are very very close cousins. And just for the record... Neo isn't in this car or the Catera for that matter

'Kathryn' wrote in with the following:

Keeanu Reeves is coming back to Australia for the filming of The Matrix 2 and 3 in October

PS I know where I will be in October wth my trusty camera, Sydney !

The Matrix 2 (Scoop #1): There's a good half dozen, possibly more set reports floating around out there that have come in today - some sent exclusively to a single site, others to multiple ones. I got a few sent to me directly from 'Levendis' & 'Steve' which are below. The third was sent out to AICN, CA, DH & others with some great shots which I'm sure some of you have already seen (but for those who haven't, here it is again) whilst the fourth went into Countingdown. No doubt there are others so best to browse the Net and find stuff like pics taken by the local paper over at The Matrix Online. Thanks also to 'Xevioso/Waddles' & 'Scooby':

Report #1: "I went to city hall in Oakland to watch the filming of Matrix 2 because I saw on your website that they were filming there, and I was told to go to the "Webster Tube to Alameda" near the police station. When I arrived there they were filming a car scene with the cameras attached to a silver car with Carrie-Ann Moss in the drivers seat and Lawrence Fishbourne in the passenger and he was talking on his black cell phone. When I first arrived there were 2 men dressed in all silver with silver dreadlocks and silver trench coats. A security guard there told me they would continue filming under the overpass on 3/29 from 8:30 to 6:30pm. He also informed me that Keanu Reeves would be on the set in 3 days filming. He told me that there would be other scenes around Oakland but mainly at the Alameda Air Force Base with the fake freeway they have built. There were black Cadillac SUV's, and also what seemed to be silver futuristic looking car with a Cadillac or maybe a GM symbol on it, but I had never seen that type of car before. Some of them had been crashed and filled with bullet holes, others drove away from the set."

Report #2: "On Tuesday 3/28 they were at 15th and Telegraph in Oakland, doing some car interior filming of a chase sequence. In the car were Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne. They came up a side street, turned left onto Telegraph (narrowly missing a bus), and then drove down Telegraph swerving around other cars. Most interesting was the car that Carrier-Anne was driving, instead of the retro sedan used in the first movie, they were in the new futuristic-design Cadillac that has been on their TV commercials (http://www.cadillac.com/moment.htm). Looks like the success of the first movie has opened the gates for more product placements in the sequels."

Report #3: "Monday and Yesterday my friend and I went to visit the set of The Matrix 2 in downtown Oakland. We work just a few blocks away so it was very cool to see them block off the streets for this. We managed to get a picture of the Silver-haired battlefield earth guy the other scooper told you about, but it turned out horribly because we shot it from so far away...". For the rest of the report,

http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/matrix2.html

Report #5: "Well from the 26th to the 27th Oakland was in the Matrix. First I must say that it was the very first day of shooting for the Matrix. The main action of this outdoor shooting was a car chase. On monday, 26th 2 stars were present on the set: Carrie-Ann Moss (exactly same outfit as the first opus)and Lawrence Fishburne (in a purple suit and long black coat)...". For the rest of the report,

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news9/press.txt

The Matrix 2 (Scoop #2): To cap off the Matrix news for the day, Warners has issued a press release with all the usual trappings and finally completely 100% confirming the major film leg will be taking place at FOX Studios in Sydney. Nothing surprising in the news, though the rumoured start date of June 2001 has been shifted back to September (most likely to accomodate for the upcoming actors strike which will affect the major stars' abilities). To read the full press release, http://www.darkhorizons.com/news9/press.txt. Thanks to 'Kathryn', 'Gavin' and Filmnet.

OAKLAND -- Several downtown streets will be closed today, Monday and Tuesday to give motion picture crews space to film scenes for "The Matrix II."

A car chase and a scene with simulated gunfire will be shot, and the following streets will be closed to parking and traffic:

16th Street between Telegraph Avenue, and Clay Street, will be closed today through Tuesday.

San Pablo Avenue between 17th Street, and Frank Ogawa Plaza, will be closed today through Tuesday.

Telegraph between Broadway and 17th Street, will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Telegraph between 17th and 19th streets will be closed Tuesday.

17th Street between San Pablo and Broadway will be closed Tuesday.

No parking will be allowed on 16th Street between Clay and Jefferson and between San Pablo and a half-block south of 16th Street on Monday and Tuesday.

The rush to get movies finished before a threatened strike has resulted in a flurry of filming in our neck of the woods. The heavy visual effects for two sequels of "The Matrix" will be shot in Oakland over a period of 12 weeks starting Monday. Everybody is being mum about when Keanu Reeves will arrive, but to our mind he's the heaviest visual effect

March 23, 2001... While talking to Coming Attractions on the set of his new movie The One, Jet Li briefly responded to questions regarding the success of The Matrix and his involvement (or lack thereof) in the two Matrix sequels.

Coming Attractions: What do you think about the success of The Matrix and the fact that there are two sequels coming out?

Jet Li: First, the Wachowski brothers are friends of mine. We always have dinner and lunch where we talk about movies and how to make them. They're so talented. They know how to use the American point of view to see Hong Kong movies - I think their point of view represents how a lot of the American audience would like to see Chinese martial arts.

CA: So why aren't you in the Matrix sequels?

JL: I thought [Matrix] part 1 was already very successful. Part 2 and Part 3 WILL [be] successful - I guarantee they will be very successful. But, part 1 didn't star Jet Li and it was successful. In part 2 and part 3, I don't think they really need me and they can still be successful. I don't want to do something where they put all the action actors in one movie - the audiences will only have a chance to see one movie where they have Jackie Chan, or Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, and everybody in one movie. In the whole year people see one [big] movie and won't have a chance to see another. Why not give the audience more opportunities to see different kinds of action movies?

This year, Jackie Chan has Rush Hour [2], I have Kiss of the Dragon and The One, Michelle Yeoh has her thing and we STILL have Matrix. More chances [for the audience] are better I think. They'll take a whole year to make [Matrix] part 2 and part 3, and everyone would go to work on that one movie. In my opinion, that's not good for the audiences.

But, a year with two new Jet Li movies, not to mention his upcoming TV show Invincible, is certainly VERY good for audiences.

In April 1999, a sci-fi hit sneaked under moviegoers' radar, taunting them with the cryptic tagline, "What Is the Matrix?" Now, nearly two years - and a significant box office/home video haul - later, fans of that vanguard film anxiously await an answer to the question, "What Is the Status of The Matrix Sequels?"

"Filming begins in late March," Keanu Reeves, the centerpiece of the original Matrix, tells TV Guide Online. "It's very exciting. I've read both of the scripts, and they're fantastic. Fantastic."

The Matrix 2 and The Matrix 3 - to be shot back-to-back, allowing post-production work to get underway during the imminent strikes - will commence shooting next month in California, before moving overseas to Australia. But before the first frame of celluloid is exposed, there's the none-too-small matter of getting the principals primed for the type of physics-bending combat that was the hallmark of the first film.

"We started training two months ago," says Reeves, referring to himself and co-stars Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving (Singer Aaliyah and Malena's Monica Bellucci round out the cast). "I show up at 9:30 and leave at 5. [The training] involves stretching, kicking, punching, choreography and weightlifting."

But how can Matrix 2 (let alone No. 3) push the special effects envelope further than the original? "Hmm, what would they be okay with me revealing," Reeves hedges, before responding. "Well, there are some [new] weapons. And before, all the fights were one-on-one. Now there is going to be some more [group] fighting."

All things considered, Reeves is prepared for the on-screen workout of his life - and is confident the new installments will wow the crowds. "From what I've heard, I'm working [on the sequels] until September 2002," he reports. "I'm 'going out to sea,' and I hope to come back bearing great gifts."

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Italian beauty Monica Bellucci (''Malena'') is in negotiations to star opposite Keanu Reeves in the back-to-back sequels to ``The Matrix''

The pictures are slated to begin production next month in Oakland, Calif.

Bellucci most recently starred in the Italian-language ``Malena'' for Miramax Films. She also recently graced the cover of Esquire magazine, draped only in caviar.

Born in Perugia, Italy 32 years ago, Bellucci has made more than 20 films since 1990, most in her native country. She made her English-language debut as Dracula's bride in Francis Ford Coppola's ``Dracula.'' Her first major English-language role was in last year's ``Under Suspicion'' opposite Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman.

Bellucci also stars in the French-language picture ``The Brotherhood of the Wolf,'' which is doing boffo business in France.

In addition to Reeves, cast members Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are returning for the ``Matrix'' sequels. The pictures will be directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

In related gaming news, Interplay Entertainment has been awarded the videogame license to "The Matrix" according to MovieHeadlines with the first project of the rank expected to be a 3-D action/adventure for the PS2 and whose plot ties into the upcoming sequels. Meantime an article over at Empire Online talks about Reeves gruelling training schedule which is basically about 7.5 hours per day - ouch. Thanks to The Matrix Online

One of our very own Editors, Germain, was able to attend a press junket for 'Sweet November.' During the conference, he was able to slip in a question, concerning the 'Matrix' sequels, and another question about Keanu's computer habits. Here's how Keanu answered, written from a true fan point of view: ...Into the room walks Keanu Reeves. I'm thinking, "Oh my GOD, its NEO. IT'S TED LOGAN, holy xxxx!!!!" But I hold in my excitement. All the questions I got from the countingdown volunteers were aimed at Keanu (with the exception of like 2), so I knew I had to represent them well. The interview was going well when I decided, it was my turn to ask a question. "You've stated in previous interviews that beyond wire work, the scenes in the next Matrix films are much more elaborate, can you add any more to this?" Keanu looks at me, thinks, mutters to himself, "what am i allowed to say here" and answers. "Well, there are alot of weapons in this one, and instead of one on one battles like the original film, there will be many more multi person battles." There was more than that, but that was the gist. The questions continue and I want to ask another. I wait for a silence and ask, "Since we are the online group here, I'm curious, do you use the internet very often?" Keanu laughs and says, "I dont even own a computer. The Wachoski brothers make fun of me all the time. 'You're fxxxxxx Neo, and you don't own a COMPUTER?!?!,' to which i say, 'That's why they call it acting.' " The entire room laughs. Keanu is a nice guy. (Thanks to Germain for a most excellent report)

The Matrix 2: Another injury? Seems so according to 'R&B': "Lawrence Fishburne was in NYC's Hudson Hotel bar two nights ago sporting a cast on his left hand/wrist. When asked about it he said that he'd torn some ligements in his wrist training for the Matrix sequels doing handsprings and such. He said that it would be 3-4 weeks before he's completely healed. Seems like the Matrix injury curse hasn't ended".

To prepare for their very physical roles in the next two sequels to The Matrix, Keanu Reeves and his castmates including Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, and Carrie-Anne Moss have already started their martial arts training. As he did for The Matrix ? and the hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ? Hong Kong fight master Yuen Wo-Ping is staging the gravity-defying fisticuffs for the sci-fi sequels, which are being shot back-to-back.

Reeves, who injured his foot on set last month requiring he wear a cast for a few days, is now fully recovered and back to work. He told Empire Online all about the gruelling regimen it takes to transform him into Matrix’s cyber-hero Neo.

“I’m there Monday through Friday from nine-thirty to five,” Reeves says matter-of-factly. “Basically, you come in in the morning and work with the Hong Kong action team, the fight choreographers. You come in in the morning and you stretch for about an hour and a half. And then you kick, you go through a series of exercises that you do every day. And then after that you go into specialized training: every person gets another person to work with…and you go through whatever particular training you need for the fights. And then after that, generally, we do choreography, which is learning the fights, and then we do wire work.'

An expert in the field ? even reverentially referred to as “The Master” by many who’ve studied under him ? Wo-Ping allegedly refuses to lend his expertise to any actors who refuse his demanding ? but ultimately fruitful ? training practices.

Some additional small details of the shooting schedule in relation to the threatened strikes have been revealed. As previously reported, the current plan for the back-to-back Matrix production is for a break midstream allowing for the strikes which will then allow the focus of attention to shift towards the FX side. Now, according to Variety, rather than ramping up production in Australia, the Matrix sequels will start production with 12 weeks of live-action shooting in Oakland, CA. As before, the project will still shift over to FX work…unless, of course, the strikes are resolved in advance

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Grammy-nominated R&B performer Aaliyah has signed on to appear in two sequels to the high-tech thriller ``The Matrix''

The 22-year-old singer, who made her feature acting debut in ``Romeo Must Die,'' will begin work in March when the first of the sequels begins production in Australia, The Hollywood Reporter reported Tuesday.

Aaliyah will play a character named Zee, but details of the plot have not been released.

Her song ``Try Again'' recently earned her a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocalist.

Sibling filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski, who directed the first installment of ``The Matrix,'' will direct both sequels. Stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving will also return.

Filming for the third installment is set to begin immediately after production wraps on the second movie.

The cast of the Matrix films is getting better-looking by the moment. Comely singer Aaliyah, who proved her acting chops in Romeo Must Die, has joined the sci-fi franchise for Warners/Village Roadshow Pictures and producer Joel Silver.

The plot of the highly anticipated sequels is closely guarded, but Variety reports that Aaliyah will play a character named Zee, who will gain prominence in the third installment.

She joins returning cast members Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving. Jada Pinkett Smith is another new recruit ? she'll play Fishburne's love interest, Niobe.

Sibling directors Larry and Andy Wachowski are reportedly still looking for an Asian martial arts star to kick the films' action up a notch. They have already been turned down by Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh.

Aaliyah just wrapped her second film, the vampire flick Queen of the Damned, in which she plays the title role.

The 22-year-old singer, whose full name is Aaliyah Haughton, hails from Detroit and released her first album, Age Ain't Nuthin but a Number, at age 15, which she followed with 1996's One in a Million. Her most recent single, "Try Again," was part of the Romeo Must Die soundtrack and earned her a Grammy nomination.

Back-to-back shoots of the Matrix sequels begin in March in Australia.

R&B songstress Aaliyah aboard 'Matrix' sequels

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Aaliyah, the singer who made her feature acting debut in Warner Bros.' "Romeo Must Die," has been added to the cast of the subsequent installments of "The Matrix" franchise for Warners/Village Roadshow Pictures and producer Joel Silver.

The first of the sequels is slated to start production in March in Australia with filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski at the helm. The third installment is scheduled to be shot immediately following the second.

The story lines for both "Matrix" sequels are being kept under tight wraps, but it is known that Aaliyah will play a character named Zee and will likely be more prominent in the third installment.

Original cast members Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are back on board for the sequels, and Jada Pinkett Smith has been added to the cast as Niobi, the love interest for Fishburne's character (HR 10/17).

Aaliyah recently wrapped another feature project for Warners/Village Roadshow, the big-screen adaptation of the Anne Rice novel "Queen of the Damned," in which she plays the title role.

Aaliyah, whose full name is Aaliyah Haughton, is a Detroit-born R&B singer whose most recent single, "Try Again," was featured as part of the "Romeo Must Die" soundtrack. The 22-year-old singer began her career at age 15 with her album "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number," and she followed it up in 1996 with "One in a Million." Aaliyah is repped by CAA.

Yeoh in, Li Out of Matrix Sequels

Date:19_Dec_2000
From :Mrshowbiz
(http://mrshowbiz.go.com/archive/news/Todays_Stories/1219/michellematrix121900.html)

The producers of the Matrix films are going to get a Hong Kong star in the franchise, one way or another.

Word is that Asian film star Jet Li, who broke through with American audiences this year with Romeo Must Die, is out of the Matrix sequels, and that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Michelle Yeoh is in.

Variety's Michael Fleming reports that Yeoh is now being courted for the role for which Li was once being wooed by writer-directors Larry and Andy Wachowski.

According to Variety, Li is out of the running because the Wachowskis simply couldn't afford him after paying out a $30 million advance to Keanu Reeves, not to mention profit-sharing deals with producer Joel Silver and the Wachowskis themselves.

Reportedly, Li was asking for $13 million but was only offered $3 million and no share of the gross to work for 11 months on the two back-to-back sequels. Since he's already being paid $9.5 million in advance to star in The One, he didn't want to settle for $1.5 million per film.

Yeoh's English-language crossover film was the James Bond installment Tomorrow Never Dies, but the surprisingly feminist Chinese-language epic Tiger is proving to be a bigger career boost to Yeoh than the Bond flick, which didn't fully capitalize on her martial arts skills.

Coincidentally, Li turned down the role in Crouching Tiger that went to Chow Yun-Fat.

It turns out that you don't have to be "The One" to get a love interest in Matrix-ville. Jada Pinkett Smith is in talks to romance smooth-talking Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) in the upcoming Matrix sequels, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The size of her role isn't known, but doing the two films could be a major time commitment. The two sequels are being filmed back to back in a 250-day shoot that gets underway in March in Australia.

Original cast members Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Fishburne, and Hugo "Agent Smith" Weaving are all back for the second and third rounds, with Jet Li mentioned to add some martial-arts whiz-bang to the proceedings.

Pinkett Smith next stars in Fox 2000's Kingdom Come and is currently on-screen in Bamboozled

Production Notes

From :http://www.usfilmproduction.com/ (http://www.usfilmproduction.com/CA/FilmingNotice/upcomprodSF.htm)

The Matrix 2 & 3 10/4/00
Start: March 2001; Shooting in: San Francisco, Chicago, Australia
Eon Entertainment, 200 Mildred Ave., Venice, CA 90291
ph: 310-578-2350; fax: 310-306-7771
Silver Pictures: 4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg. 90, Burbank, CA 91522-0001
ph: 818-954-4490; fax: 818-954-3237
Village Roadshow Pictures, 3400 Riverside Dr., Ste. 900, Burbank, CA 91505
ph: 818-260-6000; fax: 818-260-6001
Mystery Clock Cinema, 27 Renny Street , Paddington, NSW 2021
ph: 61-2-9361-6333; fax: 61-2-9331-4000
CAST: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Jet Li, Hugo Weaving
PRO: Spencer Lamm, Joel Silver, Bruce Berman, Andrew Mason;
DIR: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski;
UPM: L. Dean Jones, Jr.;
LINEPRO: Grant Hill

The Matrix 2 & 3: The winner is...Sydney. Keanu Reeves seem sure, now Producer Joel Silver finally confirms that Sydney has been selected as the location for shooting on the next two "Matrix" flicks. Silver says "We talked about possibly shooting in the UK, like we talked about shooting in Germany or Rome. But looking at all the different places, it was strictly a financial decision. It's all based on the economics. As we did the first shoot in Sydney and there were economic benefits to doing such, we decided to shoot the others there, too". Nevertheless Australia isn't the only location they'll be shooting - Chicago and San Fransisco are also on the list with small segments of the film to be shot in the Windy City and the Bay Area starting March 6th. Thanks to 'Jon', 'Glitch2000' & Know the Matrix.

Taking a page from George Lucas' playbook, the makers of the Matrix movies aren't taking any chances when it comes to leaks about the plot. Not only are most executives at Warner Bros. not yet allowed to see the screenplay for The Matrix 2, but prospective supporting cast members are being hired without seeing the script ? a practice used with the Star Wars prequels. The supersecret project reunites the original film's Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne.

The secrecy is justified, says Phillip Nakov, co-founder of countingdown.com, which provides fans with news, scoops and photos for films months before they open.

"The Matrix has an enormous, almost cultlike following," Nakov says. "It's absolutely red-hot. And I think that keeping it secret adds to the level of excitement and anticipation." Nakov says interest in Matrix 2 and 3 tops the other fan-favorite upcoming movies: Dungeons and Dragons, Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Jurassic Park 3 and Lord of the Rings. (The next Star Wars, he says, is in a class by itself.)

While the top stars return, filmmakers Andy and Larry Wachowski are quietly on the prowl to fill a number of smaller roles. Among them: a black woman, 25 to 35, for the role of a ship captain who had a relationship with Fishburne's wise resistance leader, Morpheus; a black man, 30 to 40, who can "hold his own" on screen with Morpheus; and an 18- or 19-year-old who looks up to Reeves' Neo character.

Shooting is expected to begin in January. Matrix 3 will be shot right after 2 is completed.

Cheerleading and racial conflict: Perfect together

The hyperenergetic trailer for the comedy Bring It On, opening today, has surprised moviegoers with a dramatic change in tone midway through. At first it appears to spoof heroine Kirsten Dunst and her sexy fellow cheerleaders, but then it concentrates on a surprisingly edgy racial angle ? black cheerleaders accusing a white team of ripping off their moves.

Racial conflict actually is played up in the trailer; it's not the focus of the film. Ironic, considering that Disney's marketing campaign for the Denzel Washington football film Remember the Titans, opening Sept. 29, is all about black-white racial tensions and its trailer plays them down.

"To us, (the racial theme) is one of the most compelling aspects of Bring It On," says Marc Shmuger, head of distribution at Universal. But the marketing department hit a roadblock.

Many moviegoers see cheerleaders as "goofy," Universal discovered in test marketing, and have a built-in resistance to caring about them.

So the trailer intentionally makes the heroines look silly , then throws the racial tension at moviegoers when their defenses are down. The idea was to capture a movie "that really respects and loves its characters" ? however goofy they may appear, Shmuger says.

The result is that young black, white and Hispanic women are equally interested in the PG-13 film, according to Universal research. "That is something I've never seen," Shmuger says. "Usually, a young female movie will be limited racially in its predominant appeal."

Not that Universal expects a Bring It On box office bonanza. The film only cost $10 million to make. If Universal's plan works even a little bit, Bring It On could make that back in two weekends.

Unconfirmed rumors (but then, they're the best kind) have French actor Jean Reno (Ronin) and another undisclosed French actress up for roles in the Matrix sequels. Apparently, one of the parts calls for a male somewhere in the 40 year old range. According to our scooper, someone has hinted at possibly reviving Jean Claude Van Damme's fading career. Also rumored to be in the mix is former British pop star Luke Gross who may be playing one of the agents. Gross' credits include the stage version of Grease, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and was one of the duel frontmen of the group Bros with his twin brother. Sure, they're all unconfirmed rumors, but other sources tell us the French characters and the new agent are indeed the real deal. [Thanks to 'C'; reported by Reg.]

NEW YORK -- For only the second time in his career after Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Keanu Reeves is preparing to do a movie sequel. Two of them, simultaneously.

"I'm looking forward to playing the part again," Reeves says of reprising his role in The Matrix in two sequels, which will both begin filming in November and continue shooting until the end of 2001.

"I had a very special time to make that picture," Reeves says of the original, which became a surprise megahit. "I had no expectation. I really didn't know how it was going to be received. When I saw it, it was better than the film I thought I had made."

As for the sequels, Reeves is over the moon about the possibilities. "It's an extraordinary circumstance. The films have an extraordinary opportunity and extraordinary ambitions."

Reeves will commit four months to training, and then 13 months for shooting. Scenes for both sequels will be shot at one time on specific locations that figure in both stories. With a year of post-production necessary, fans won't see the first of the sequels until late in 2002, Reeves says.

Keanu Reeves has the script for The Matrix 2 in hand, and he's giving it a big thumbs up.

"It's fantastic," he says. "It has even more ambitions than the first one. My character is more developed."

Reeves, whose career was kick-started by starring as Neo in the original, will start training for the physically grueling role in November. Two sequels are planned, the first for late 2002 and the second for summer 2003. They'll be shot back-to-back starting in late March or early April.

The Matrix, which grossed $171.2 million last year, was lauded for its sci-fi action scenes and unusual camera work.

Reeves says the stunts in Matrix 2 are even more elaborate. "There are a lot of physical demands in it," he says. "It's more sophisticated in the action sequences and fight sequences."

The brother team of Andy and Larry Wachowski, who also wrote and directed the first film, now is studying digital cameras and "trying to achieve certain camera perspectives," Reeves says.

The 35-year-old actor says The Matrix and its sequels are appealing because they aim to "synthesize the action spectacle and give it an emotional context."

So much so, Reeves says, that "I never thought of it as an action picture. I always thought of it as a drama."

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Carrie-Anne Moss has closed a deal to reunite with Keanu Reeves in the two sequels to ``The Matrix'' which are scheduled to begin back-to-back production next fall in a 250-day shoot

Writer-directors Larry and Andy Wachowski are again at the helm of the Warner Bros. project.

Moss has also inked to play Judi Dench's daughter in Miramax Films ``Chocolat,'' which co-stars Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche and Alfred Molina.

Lasse Hallstrom (''The Cider House Rules'') is poised to start directing the project next month in France and England.

Moss also co-stars with Guy Pearce in Cannes candidate ``Memento.'' She will next be seen in ``The Crew'' alongside Burt Reynolds (due in theaters Aug. 25), and in ``Red Planet,'' co-starring with Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore (due in theaters Nov. 10).

The Matrix II: A war is going on out there, with the prize being tens of millions of dollars being pumped into the economy of the winner's city. Despite Joel Silver's wanting to come back and Keanu Reeves indicating he'd like to return, The Daily Telegraph reports that it looks like Sydney has not been locked in as the location for filming of the upcoming two "Matrix" films. A spokesman for 'Ausfilms', the company which helps all major international film companies setup productions wishing to use Australian facilities (incl. the first "The Matrix" film), has said a deal has yet to be signed. Conflicting the decision are bids from London and Canada whose respective film industries desperately want the productions, and are offering large incentives to try and nab it - especially the Canadians. In related news, Jet Li talked with the London Evening Standard about his latest film "Romeo Must Die" seemed to confirm his position of "being a front-runner" to be involved in the production. Thanks to 'TopGunJedi'.