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

Do The 'Matrix'

The Matrix: post-apocalyptic fable, anti-capitalist tract and Baudrillard-influenced philosophical treatise. Not, then, something that instantly seems to demand a huge dance number, but that seems to be just the case, according to reports on the upcoming Matrix: Reloaded.

It's fair to say that, upon discovering this, Empire Online began to suspect that we'd had a little too much syrup with our pancakes, but it transpires that renowned dance-choreographer Charles Moulton has been enlisted to put a little rhythm into the sci-fi sequel. According to The Matrix Online, Moulton has transformed San Francisco's Almeda naval base into a huge venue for the movie, enlisting a thousand dancers to populate the scene.

"I saw the dailies, and they were absolutely spectacular," says Moulton. "When we were shooting, there were hordes of people. They were using cranes, huge dollies, cables. Cameras came swooping down over the crowd. What they were doing was absolutely wild.・p> Clamped with a studio-standard seal of secrecy, Moulton was unable to explain exactly how a thousand-strong horde of dancers works it's way into the story. Horrified fans may, at this point, be conjuring images of Morpheus and Trinity doing the Macarena or a impromptu Agent-led rendition of The Village People but the reality is somewhat less disturbing. The sequence will be a "colossal" choreographed routine, which features six or seven distinct movement patters that ripple through the crowd.

Moulton refused to say whether the film's protagonists will actually appear in the scene but did get the chance to watch one Mr Reeves strut his funky stuff and came away impressed. "Having worked with the best in the world, with Merce [Cunningham] and Baryshnikov, I can say he's very physically disciplined. He takes instruction well. And I think he's great in his movies. I watched the first Matrix, and I thought he was brilliant.・p> Thanks to Movie Headlines

"I catch the train to and from school daily. Recently as my train has passed through the old train yards entering Redfern I noticed that something of an epic proportion is going on inside these old buildings which are used heavily in the production television shows and ads. The large doors to one of the buildings was open the other day and many large dome structures built inside were visible. Around the same time various people dressed in black were filming inside an old train".

* Anyway, that cattle call audition I mentioned last week took place, and although none of the bleedin' auditionees sent us in any reports, there were a couple posted on thematrixonline.com. Check them out for detailed info, meanwhile the highlights were probably... that for the purposes of the auditionees, the Matrix sequels would be codenamed "The Burly Man" (anyone know the story behind this? Joke, obscure reference?)... That the auditionees, if they matched a certain body size, were stood against a lifesized cut-out of Agent Smith (aka Hugo Weaving)... That filming will take place between 24 September and June 2002... and that the auditioners were after about 75-150 Hugo Weaving look-a-likes.

Reeves said his role in The Matrix 2 and 3 would be far more challenging than the original blockbuster. "It's fantastic," the actor told US reporters.

"It has even more ambitions than the first one. My character is more developed. "There are a lot of physical demands in it. It's more sophisticated in the action sequences and fight sequences." The star of Speed and Point Break has kept a low profile since his arrival last week spending most of his downtime in his hotel suite.

Matrix insiders say he is still suffering depression after the stillbirth of his daughter last year and the death of girlfriend Jennifer Syme in a car crash in April. Moss was spotted picking up her husband, Steven Roy, at Sydney airport last weekend, and the couple have since spent much time on set together. Fishburne, 40, who set up home in Bondi, has spent a lot of time on set and in the beach suburb with fiancee Gina Torres Local star Hugo Weaving obviously took his new exercise regime seriously and cycled to Fox Studios every day last week. Moss and Fishburne both joined former US president Bill Clinton, at a Sydney Children's Hospital fundraiser at Randwick last night.

The $200 million Matrix sequels will be filmed back to back at Fox Studios over the next four months, and will feature up to 40 Sydney locations. Although the sets are still under construction, filming is scheduled to start on September 24, with hundreds of local wannabe actors needed to play extras. "We need hundreds of local men," confirmed Matrix publicist Fiona Searson.

"But they need to stand between 183cm and 188cm to be considered for a role."

The men will play Keanu look-alikes for a cloning sequence laden with special effects, which is integral to both films. A Sydney City Council spokesman said while no official application had been received, Matrix reloaded was expected to be less disruptive than the original.

"We believe the main unit will be shooting for two weeks only in Sydney," he said.

Brothers Larry and Andy Wachowski will direct the sequels, in which Will smith's wife Jada pinkett-Smith, will also star. Meanwhile, thousands of Keanu Reeves look-alikes queued for their chance at fame at Newtown theatre yesterday. The mass of hopefuls, all wearing dark glasses and dark suit jackets, stretched down several blocks of King St from 9am. Hundreds who turned up after 11am looked despondently at the queue and headed back home.

Once inside the doors of the theatre, those auditioning were told to stand in front of a silhouette. Those who matched the figure were then teamed with another candidate and photographed standing beside a Hugo Weaving cut-out. In fine Hollywood tradition, those who reached the photograph-and-form stage were told: "We'll call you."

Hundreds of hopefuls dash to Sydney for Matrix part

Hundreds of tall, slim Sydney men are this morning making a bid for stardom, as they try for a bit-part alongside Keanu Reeves in the sequel to the popular film, The Matrix.

While they say they have hundreds of positions, the producers of the sci-fi, martial arts films are quite specific.

They only want men of slim build, and they must be of a height between 183 and 188 centimetres tall or they will be turned away.

Amusing the locals of inner city Newtown, hundreds have answered the call lining King Street waiting to be called up.

It is a motley crew but most are wearing the required T-shirt and jacket.

The two Matrix sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and Matrix 3, will be filmed in Sydney over the next four months but they are not due for released until 2003

Matrix Cast Grieves Aaliyah

The Matrix Reloaded star Carrie-Anne Moss told USA Today that the cast is still recovering from the death of co-star Aaliyah, who was slated to play a role in the sequel. "We were all devastated and shocked," Moss told the newspaper. "She had already become a part of the Matrix family. We still think about her." The pop star and actress died in a plane crash Aug. 25.

Meanwhile, Moss told the newspaper that the physical demands of the film and The Matrix 3 are greater than those of the original. "They want more intense fighting, more complicated moves," Moss said from Australia, where the two movies are shooting. "I'm exhausted." Moss and co-stars Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne will spend nearly two months in martial-arts training to intensify the fights from the original, the newspaper reported. "I get up, train, eat dinner, go to bed and start over the next day," she said. "I've forgotten what a social life is like."

More complicated kicks in 'Matrix' sequels

Carrie-Anne Moss figured she had learned all the karate she needed after the first Matrix. Now she's a novice once again.

"They want more intense fighting, more complicated moves," Moss says while shooting the upcoming sequels in Australia. "I'm exhausted."

Moss and co-stars Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne will spend nearly two months in martial-arts training to intensify the fights from the original. "I get up, train, eat dinner, go to bed and start over the next day," she says. "I've forgotten what a social life is like."

Moss said the cast is still recovering from the death of singer/actress Aaliyah, who was killed in a plane crash Aug. 25. "We were all devastated and shocked," Moss says. "She had already become a part of the Matrix family. We still think about her."

Keanu Gives Up Matrix Money

It may come as no surprise that Keanu Reeves, who opts to intersperse mega-hits like Speed with quirkier art-house fare like Little Buddha, isn't exactly motivated by money. The actor has even signed away a sizeable back-end deal for two Matrix sequels, the Wall Street Journal reported today in a profile of Reeves' erratic Hollywood career.

According to the paper, Reeves handed over his valuable profit-sharing points to the franchise's special-effects and costume-design team. Whoa, dude!

"He felt that they were the ones who made the movie and that they should participate," an unnamed movie executive tells the Journal.

And it's not the first time that Reeves has shared his movie spoils. On The Devil's Advocate, Reeves shaved his salary by a few million dollars so that producers could afford Al Pacino, and he did the same thing on The Replacements to be able to work with Gene Hackman, according to the Journal.

But don't cry for Reeves' bank account: the actor was paid $10 million upfront for The Matrix and ended up earning $35 million from back-end deals when the film became a hit.

If it were up to studio execs ? and doubtless, most moviegoers ? Reeves would be cast only in profitable, surefire action movies like The Matrix and Speed. Instead, says the Journal, Warner Bros. compromises with the actor, greenlighting movies like Sweet November that no one particularly wants to see to secure Reeves' services for the big movies.

Still, the actor's quest for diverse roles paid off recently when he won unexpected praise for his turn as a redneck wife beater in the little-seen The Gift.

The Truth About That MATRIX Tidbit...

Hey folks, Harry here... In watching the site recently from my bedridden state, I saw that MATRIX bit that Moriarty posted. The first thing that shocked me was to hear that Moriarty was on my TV show. Whaaaaaaaat? The boy's on the pipe again folks. No wanted criminal is going to be appearing on my show... that's the problem with Entertainment News shows today... too many criminals on the air and being talked about. As for him in a motion-capture suit... don't make me laugh... that'd have to be a TIME LAPSE MO-CAP suit... he's so slow, sometimes decades bleed into other decades for him. BUT... in regards to the MATRIX info, I knew twas bunk... and as if to confirm those beliefs... today I got the following e-mail from a bitter revenge-hungry pregnant alien Broadway-singing swashbuckler... Beware of SPOILERS!!! Hey Harry,

Long time reader and lurker..first time poster...this is in regards about the cloning rumors in Matrix 2...well i'll tell yah its absolutely not true...my roommate up here in Frisco is working on some of the cgi in the uncoming sequel...hes pretty tight lipped about most of it...but i showed him the article and he just laughed...the cloning is b.s....but that sequence with Neo fighting a 100 versions of himself is quite true....other things to look forward to...agents being able to morph into inanimate objects?!...thats all i could get out of him...but ill let you know if he opens up!

so the 100 versions is true..its just not a cloning scene...its just an action scene developed by the Matrix!

you can call me...

Keanu Trained To Max For Matrix 2

Movie megastar Keanu Reeves had to train extra hard for the upcoming Matrix sequel - so hard he ended up in hospital. The Matrix Reloaded is not due for release until 2003, but is already in production along with a third instalment, planned for 2004. And Reeves - who plays Neo in the flicks - says the movies are set to be bigger and deadlier than the original. He promises, "Last time all the fights for Neo were one on one. Now it's one on five." And training for the scenes was so rigorous he put himself in plaster while working out. He adds, "I got a trauma on my ankle that put me in a cast for four days."

MATRIX 2 Is About WHAT?!

Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab. I'm familiar with the Nightbreed, but I'm not familiar with the Grahambreed. Still, that's who sent me a link to an article that appeared online from the SUN-HERALD, an Australian newspaper. It's all about THE MATRIX 2 and an upcoming cattle call for tall men to be in the film. Near the end of the article, there's a couple of tidbits lumped together as "INSIDE THE MATRIX." Check this out:

"The storyline of MATRIX 2 remains top secret, but insiders have revealed cloning is the key theme of the movie. Neo (Keanu Reeves) is set to fight 100 versions of himself in a stunning action sequence."

Can you hear me rolling my eyes from where you are? Either this reporter is just completely confused about what she's heard so far (my vote), or the Wachowskis are making the third major SF franchise film about cloning (joining STAR WARS and STAR TREK), which would be about two too many in my book. When we recently shot the pilot for the Ain't It Cool News television show, I had to work with a motion-capture unit. The guys who put me in the suit and worked the capture equipment had done some work on MATRIX RELOADED, and they told me about a scene involving Neo fighting 100 opponents, but they said the character who got replicated was one of the Agents.

If this rumor starts popping up in other places in the days ahead, discount it. Besides, you're going to want to come back later this week for a MATRIX story that promises to have some real answers about what's going on with the supposed third film, what the bond company is nervous about, and what just might scuttle the franchise altogether. Until then... CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE!!

Keanu wants you for his new movie

Keanu Reeves will reprise the role of troubled cyber-hacker Neo, left, in the Matrix sequel.

By Christine Sams

Hundreds of Sydneysiders will appear alongside Keanu Reeves in The Matrix sequels after producers revealed they need an army of Australian extras.

But the creators behind the smash-hit action blockbuster are only looking for tall men to take part in their $200 million sequels.

"We need hundreds of local men to appear in the movies," said Fiona Searson, spokeswoman for The Matrix sequels. "But they need to stand between 183cm [six feet] and 188cm [six feet, two inches] to be considered for a role," she said.

Ms Searson said men aged up to 50 were welcome to audition for the action blockbusters - which will be filmed in Sydney over the next four months.

Reeves arrived in Sydney last week in preparation for his leading roles in The Matrix 2 and 3. He was joined by other key cast members including Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne, and filming is expected to begin at Fox Studios within a fortnight.

Hundreds of Sydneysiders will also join Reeves on set after producers announced the dream opportunity for everyday Aussie men to join the cast of the mega-budget production - even for just a few days.

An open casting call for Matrix hopefuls will be held in Newtown on Saturday and the men chosen will be required to work on set in October and December.

They will get a rare glimpse inside The Matrix sets at Fox Studios, where Reeves plans to reprise the role of Neo, a troubled cyber-hacker drawn into the mysterious world of The Matrix.

Local actor Hugo Weaving will also appear in the sequels as Agent Smith, with appearances from other Australian actors including Steve Bastoni.

All leading cast members have been involved in intense martial arts training, with the action expected to be even more spectacular the second time around.

"It's harder and more sophisticated," Reeves told US reporters. "Instead of one-on-one fights, there's multi-fights and weapons."

The directors, brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski, plan to film spectacular outdoor sequences in Sydney but details of the exact locations remain secret.

The brothers spent more than three months in Sydney in 1998 to film the original blockbuster.

It is believed they will spend more than $200 million on The Matrix sequels, with Australian crew members used for special effects, sound recording and camera work.

Australian special effects supervisor Steve Courtley and sound recordist David Lee won Oscars for their work on The Matrix.

The Wachowski brothers will film the sequels simultaneously.

In a major break from Hollywood tradition, the films are expected to be released within six months of each other, in 2003.

A number of scenes for the sequels have already been filmed in California and Chicago, but the high-profile cast members are expected to be in Sydney for at least four months.

INSIDE THE MATRIX(*** SPOILERS ***)

The storyline of Matrix 2 remains top secret, but insiders have revealed cloning is the key theme of the movie. Neo (Keanu Reeves) is set to fight 100 versions of himself in a stunning action sequence.

Warner Bros decided to use Sydney as the primary location for The Matrix in 1998 because of favourable tax conditions under 10B legislation.

The Australian Taxation Office has since rejected similar concessions for films including Red Planet and Moulin Rouge, prompting speculation The Matrix sequels will be Warner Bros' last big-budget productions in Australia.

The Matrix earned more than $320million at the US box office.

Singer Aaliyah's Plane Crash Tragedy - The Untold Story of Lost Love and Broken Hearts

Budding superstar Aaliyah's death has left a trail of broken hearts - the three men closest to her have been ripped apart by the tragedy.

Former producer and boyfriend R. (Robert) Kelly and current beau Damon Dash are devastated by the death of the 22-year-old R&B artist.

And actor Keanu Reeves - with whom she was set to star in two "Matrix" sequels - is also crushed by the loss of Aaliyah who died along with eight others when their reportedly over loaded small plane crashed shortly after taking off from Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas on August 25.

Said the source: "Keanu Reeves has been left numb with grief as well. Though they weren't lovers, he was taken with her talent and beauty and talked her into signing on for two sequels to his smash film "The Matrix." She was set to spend four months in Australia this year filming both sequels.

"He told everybody the movies were going to make her a big movie star. He says he can't even think about how he's going to replace her."

[snip]

THE MATRIX RECASTED

Savant's in town, and I got a very brief scoop for you. That infamous dude Pikul had a late-night chat with me again to brief me on some current happenings on the set of the Matrix sequel(s). Rather than posting his actual ramblings, I'm just gonna cut through the bull and deliver his commandments to you, the little people. Key points include:

* The recent death of singer/actress Aaliyah will not slow the production down terribly, as her primary scenes have not been shot yet. The part will be recast (duh) and candidates being discussed include Stacey Dash (TV's 'Clueless', who is much, much, much older than she looks) and Brandy Norwood (TV's 'Moesha', and a hip-hop star like Aaliyah). Unknowns will also be considered for the part.

* Contrary to statements made by the producers, the studio, and the media, the scoops regarding shooting on The Matrix Reloaded have been mostly accurate, and footage is being shot. While the more principle part of principal photography has not yet commenced in full, extensive camera tests, F/X work, and background/atmosphere/extras scenes have been shooting for a while now.

* He does not know if they are shooting just Part II or both II and III at the same time.

That's it. Hope this fills your sac for the moment. And like I need to remind you all, take this stuff with a grain of salt. Part of me is praying this guy is a hoaxer, because Brandy... ooooh she's nasty. Dog nasty.

Mendes to replace Aaliyah in "Matrix Reloaded?"

There are conflicting reports everywhere on the Internet regarding Aaliyah and her involvement with "The Matrix Reloaded." Nevertheless, it's a good chance that her role will be recast seeing that her character, Zee, was central to both part 2 and 3. While rumors of Brandy or Stacey Dash ("Clueless") have surfaced as possible replacements, one rumor has surfaced that is very plausible.

Eva Mendes ("Exit Wounds", "Urban Legends") is a new name that has sprung up. Apparently, she was one of the finalists for the role of Zee but lost it to Aaliyah. Producer Joel Silver likes working with actors in multiple films, so I wouldn't be surprised if this rumor turned out to be true.

There's conflicting reports all over the place about the late Aaliyah's involvement in the upcoming Matrix sequel. On the one hand some official reps have indicated she hasn't done any scenes yet. On the other hand Aaliyah2001.Com and Coming Attractions are indicating she has shot up to 80% of her footage already whilst several other media outlets like TRL are indicating she has done at least some scenes. Final word from Warners will hopefully be forthcoming. In any case already a rumoured replacement has emerged - actress Eva Mendes ("Exit Wounds") who apparently was also one of the 'finalists' for the role of 'Zee' in the first place. Another rumour came swirling out of the production today that one of the major single villains in the third film is someone called 'Quintessence' to be played by a kung fu expert. Thanks to 'Movie Man', 'Ahmad', 'Isaac' & 'Raven'

August 26, 2001... Singer/actress Aaliyah and seven others died after their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff yesterday evening. Aaliyah had been visiting the Bahamas to choose a location for filming her next music video. Her latest album, self-titled Aaliyah, had just been released last month. She was 22.

The cause for the accident is not known at this time. Understandably, her tragic death has shocked and devastated her fans, as well as the many who were looking forward to her performance in the two Matrix sequels. How this will affect both Matrix 2 as well as Matrix 3, and the release of Aaliyah's Official website, the actress had completed 80% of her work for The Matrix Reloaded at the time of her death. She was scheduled to fly to Australia and finish the remainder of her Reloaded job, as well as Matrix 3, after the New Year. With so much of the actress' role already filmed, the creators of the Matrix sequels are now faced with the issue of completing the remainder of the Matrix filming without one of their leading stars -- and a decision about whether to recast the role must be weighing on their minds right now. [Originally appeared on Aaliyah2001.com.]

'Matrix' Filmmakers Extend Sympathies for Aaliyah

Producer Joel Silver and directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, currently preparing for the Australian portion of the second and third installments of "The Matrix" franchise, joined Warner Bros. Pictures today in extending their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Aaliyah, who was the victim of a plane crash Saturday.

Aaliyah was a principal cast member in both films and had begun shooting, although the majority of her scenes were scheduled to begin production in September. No production decisions have been made. "The Matrix Reloaded" is scheduled for release in 2003.

Joel Silver, who also worked with Aaliyah on her feature acting debut, last year's "Romeo Must Die," said today: "We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. Aaliyah's acting career was just blossoming. She had remarkable talent and charisma and great potential. The Wachowskis and I, as well as the production executives at Warner Bros. Pictures, were looking forward to working with her in the two Matrix films as well as many other future projects. Her passing is a tremendous loss. Our hearts go out to her loved ones."

The private funeral for R&B star Aaliyah, who died on Saturday with eight other people in a plane crash in the Bahamas, will be held on Friday at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan, the funeral home said.,

A daylong memorial event for fans and members of the public who wish to honor the singer's memory will be held at Cipriani's 42nd Street on East 42nd St. in Manhattan, near Grand Central Terminal, Virgin Records said.

Aaliyah's music and videos will play continuously during the memorial, which will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT

The private funeral, expected to be attended by 1,200 people by invitation only, will follow a horse-drawn carriage carrying Aaliyah's body from the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home to the church, said the funeral home's general manager, Kevin Mack.

After the mass, 22 trained doves were to be released to fly overhead, one for each year of the singer's short life.

According to rumors, Square Pictures may have gotten work doing a short CG Matrix

by Paul Davidson

2001-08-28

After finishing and releasing this summer's ho-hum computer-generated film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, what new projects do Square Pictures have on their plates? According to a short article at Ain't It Cool News, they may have been recruited by the Wachowski Brothers to work on a Matrix-related project.

An inside report has it that Square will produce a ten-minute computer-generated short film using techniques they mastered during their years-long work on Final Fantasy. The film is apparently intended to be a prequel to the upcoming Matrix Reloaded movie starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne. That means it would presumably fit in, storywise, between the original Matrix hit movie and the sequel, due in theaters in 2003.

Details are still scrambled as to what exactly this short prequel film is for. It may be a special Internet-only feature, in which case the Wachowskis are shelling out a lot of cash for an uncertain marketing venture. It may also be intended as a special feature on the Matrix Reloaded DVD when it comes out ? but if it's a prequel, it makes more sense to show it before the second Matrix film comes out. At any rate, we'll keep an eye out on this one.

In other Matrix-related news, today's Variety is reporting that Larry and Andy Wachowski have been asking anime directors to provide episodes inspired by the Matrix films. The trade newspaper reports that "Matrix Anime is being planned for a late 2002 or early 2003 video release."

The Matrix Reloaded & Jurassic Park IV

Date:28-Aug-2001
From:Dark Horizons

It appears that shooting has gotten underway in Australia on 'Reloaded'. A large sequence apparently took place today in Sydney's famous Entertainment Centre performing venue. Specific details are unknown though it has been found out some large scale stunts were involved, whilst some of the extras were dressed up in gear described as 'part robot'. Sam Neill has been doing the promo rounds for the third JP film in Australia and seems to be indicating he's not interested in doing a fourth JP film: "Everybody was surprised (how popular the film is), not at least Steven. I suspect this is the last one. Three seems to be the definitive number". Thanks to 'Jaz'.

With Aaliyah's departure, now comes the question of how will it affect the various productions she has been involved in. I contacted a rep from Village Roadshow Australia who indicated there will likely be no delays as such with "The Matrix Reloaded" production that begins shooting in Sydney next month - therefore expect recasting news shortly. Aaliyah was also in Australia last year shooting "The Queen of the Damned" which wrapped a while ago and is now heavily into post production - no reshoots were planned either it seems. This isn't the first sombre note to hit the "Matrix" sequel production, Keanu Reeves' girlfriend was killed in a car accident earlier this year.

Death of singer Aaliyah adds more turmoil to an already troubled shooting schedule.

At 6:50 PM Saturday, August 25th, a small plane carrying R&B singer and actress Aaliyah crashed while attempting to take off from a an airport in the Bahamas. The singer, star of the Jet Li film Romeo Must Die, the upcoming Queen of the Damned & Matrix Reloaded, was killed when the plane burst into flames after crashing 200 feet from the runway. There were no survivors. According to early reports, Aaliyah had been in the Bahamas shooting a music video. It has been speculated that the weight of the equipment they were bringing back to the US may have contributed to the crash of the chartered Cessna. Another report pointed to the possiblity of engine failure. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The tragic death of one of its stars has possibly thrown the future of the 2 Matrix sequels into doubt. Aaliyah was to have played a major character in both films, according to sources involved with the films. There has not been any word from the Wachowskis or Warner Brothers concerning the fate of The Matrix Reloaded or its sequel but the singer's part was reportedly 80% complete. A press release on Monday from the studio did not address the issue but did send condolences to the families of all aboard the ill-fated flight.

22-year-old Aaliyah had a promising film career underway at the time of her death. After appearing with Jet Li in Romeo Must Die, the actress won the title role in the film adaptation of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned. That film, originally scheduled for release this year, had been pushed back to mid-2002. The singer had been working on Matrix Reloaded, the sequel to the hit The Matrix. She was also attached to star in Universal's Move!, based on the life of choreographer and dance teacher Kim Gidart, who put together a dance troupe made up entirely of offenders from L.A. County's Juvenile Hall. Another project in development for the actress was the Whitney Houston-produced remake of the 1973 film Sparkle, titled Dreamgirls. Sadly, none of these will now come to pass.

G'Day Matrix

Date:3-Sep-2001 Photo From:New Weekly Date:27-Aug-2001 From: dailytelegraph.news.com.au (The detail is dailytelegraph.news.com.au Keanu Reeves and directors Larry and Andy Wachowski are self confessed Longy-a-holics, often flying him around the country to be by their side.

Documentary, anime to set stage for "Matrix" return

Date:27-Aug-2001
From:

PALM BEACH, Fla. (Variety) - With the debut of "Matrix Reloaded" not expected until May 2003, Warner Bros. is trying to maintain interest in the franchise by introducing a 2-1/2-hour documentary on the movie and its sequels this fall and hiring directors to produce anime episodes of the stories.

Warner Home Video executives told retailers at a presentation here that "The Matrix Revisited" will debut on DVD and VHS Nov. 20 and include interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and sneak peeks at "Matrix Reloaded" and a third "Matrix" movie that is in pre-production.

The studio said it has sold more than 10 million copies of the movie on VHS and DVD since its release in 1999.

Meanwhile, "Matrix" directors Andy and Larry Wachowski have asked anime directors to provide episodes inspired by the Keanu Reeves film that grossed about $171 million in U.S. theaters. "Matrix Anime" is being planned for a late 2002 or early 2003 video release.

Aaliyah had finished filming her first part of the Matrix movies.

On 7/17/01: "Aaliyah recently finished shooting the first portion of the Matrix II in the U.S. She will fly to Australia after the new year to complete filming with co-stars Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne and Jada Pinkett, among others. In the Matrix II, Aaliyah plays the role of Zee."

MARSH HARBOUR, Bahamas (AP) -- R&B singer and actress Aaliyah died Saturday when a small plane that was to carry her and eight others back to the United States crashed after takeoff in the Bahamas, authorities said.

Eight were killed, and one critically injured man was flown to Florida for treatment, officials said.

"We find it devastating and most unfortunate that after having this world-famous star Aaliyah and her crew select the Bahamas as their choice location for her latest video, the project has climaxed on such a tragic note," said Minister of Tourism Tommy Turnquest, who happened to be visiting Abaco Island, where the plane went down.

Aaliyah's song "Try Again" earned her a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocalist. She made her feature acting debut in the film "Romeo Must Die."

Bahamian national television quoted the civil aviation department as saying Aaliyah was among nine Americans on board.

The private plane was leaving the Marsh Harbour airport on a trip to Opa-locka, Florida, when it went down Saturday evening, said police spokesman Marvin Dames.

Abaco Island Chief Councilor Silbert Mills said those killed included two women and six men.

Islander Derek Russell, who worked for the group during the video shoot, said he got the artist's autograph before the accident.

"She's a nice girl, a friendly girl," he said.

The cause of the crash was unclear. Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in Atlanta, said the plane was a Cessna 402 owned by Skystream, a company based in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She said the plane crashed at the end of the airport's runway at 6:50 p.m. EDT (2250 GMT).

We've got something pretty exciting for you to check out today. How about a downloadable video trailer of footage from Warner's upcoming Matrix: Revisited DVD? The clip is in Real Media format (get a free Real Player here) and runs about 2 minutes. It's available in 56k, 100k and 300k optimized versions, to ease download times (300k is obviously the highest quality). So pick your download and enjoy. These files may not be published elsewhere online without permission. Thanks to Thomas for sending them!

New ``Matrix'' DVD Release on 20th Nov

Date:20-Aug-2001
From:http://www.thedigitalbits.com/
(Detail is here)

No... we're not kidding. Warner Bros. is releasing The Matrix: Revisited on DVD on November 20th (SRP $19.98). As near as we can tell, the new disc doesn't include the film - it's just a separate, behind-the-scenes disc with additional material on the making of the film. Here's an excerpt from Warner's press information:

"Been in The Matrix? Now take the next leap of understanding with The Matrix: Revisited. Experience the nuts, the bolts, the creative thunder of the cyberthriller that thrust moviemaking into an astonishing new dimension with never-before-seen footage from the original movie and exclusive reflections by those who lived it. Then go deeper with a look forward into the reality that is unfolding in real time: the sequels simmering to life at hidden locations around the world; an eye-popping first glace into The Matrix Anime - new dimensions that explain more about The Matrix. The Matrix: Revisited is the who, what, where, when and wow of a phenomenon that has just begun. It will make you dream in bullet time."

Specifically, here's what you'll get:
What is to Come? (which takes you behind-the-scenes on Matrix 2), What is Animatrix? (anime preview),
What is the Matrix.com? (preview of new website),
The True Followers (interviews with hardcore fans),
The Dance of the Master (fight choreography of Wu Ping),
The Bathroom Fight and Wet Wall (scene study with behind-the-scenes footage),
But Wait, There's More (music montage with never-before-seen footage from The Matrix) and 4 Easter eggs (Chase in the Alley, The Woman in Red, Gun Training and Juke Box-audio only). Interesting, no?

New ``Matrix'' eyes 2003

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Warner Bros. will bow ``Matrix Reloaded'' in a simultaneous domestic and foreign wide release pegged for May 2003, sources said.

Industry observers had expected a fourth-quarter 2002 roll-out of the sequel to 1999's Keanu Reeves blockbuster ``The Matrix.'' But Warner Bros. distribution president Dan Fellman said, ``We never have had it scheduled.''

Warner Bros. won't officially confirm the tentative 2003 plans, with Fellman noting that shooting has yet to start although early effects work is going well. ``We are right on schedule with the film,'' he said.

A third ``Matrix'' picture is also in pre-production.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

First the good guys, and now ? the bad guy. He's the infection, the virus, the DNA destroyer, La Muerte Roja. He's Thrax!

-c Warner Bros. & Conundrum Entertainment

"This is gonna be messy!"
Laurence Fishburne, the voice of Thrax, needs no introduction, but I'll go ahead and offer: Apocalypse Now, Rumblefish, The Cotton Club, Boyz N the Hood, The Color Purple, Searching for Bobby Fischer, What's Love Got to Do With It and Event Horizon (because that one fried my cerebellum). Stepping into the way-back machine, going mid-70s, he starred in the tragic inner-city morality tale Cornbread, Earl and Me. This one sticks with me because twenty-plus years ago I remember watching it in school (Deerpath Junior High, Lake Forest, IL) on 16mm. Oh yeah... and there was this other movie he was in with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. It was a damn good flick. He played this guy Morph-somebody.

The Matrix Won't Reload Until 2003

Fans eagerly awaiting the next Matrix film are in for a disappointment ?Ethey're going to have to wait an extra year. Producer Joel Silver has told Sci-Fi Wire that the release of the first sequel, The Matrix Reloaded, probably won't occur now until 2003. It had originally been hoped that the film could be released around Christmas 2002, possibly going head-to-head with New Line's second LOTR installment, The Two Towers.

Silver said "you'll see" when asked if this rescheduling would push back the Matrix 3 release as well. He was also quick to make assurances that the delay is simply meant to benefit the quality of both films. "It's a staggering project," said Silver. "There's so much dealing with it, it's unbelievable, and they just need time to finish both movies, because we're shooting them as one big movie. It's not back-to-back. It's one movie, so they'll finish shooting it, and then they'll take the time to finish the movies."

Silver's comments fit in with what Laurence Fishburne told IGN FilmForce's own Steve Head at the Montreal premiere of Osmosis Jones. Fishburne said that he's booked for Matrix sequel shooting "through 2002. Yeah, we won't be finished before the middle of 2002." For the entirety of Fishburne's comments, check out our video interview. Considering the number of special effects that will have to be completed after they're done filming,even if they do get done mid-2002 - 2003 sounds like a much more reasonable time-frame for release of the film.

In other news, Ain't It Cool News reports that not only are Matrix melee scenes being choreographed Oriental-style, Neo and Company may be wielding some Oriental steel as well. Some comments dropped at Oriental Weapons.com state that bona fide katanas (Musashi Miyamoto Daisho katanas to be exact, try saying that five times quickly) have been used as props on the Matrix set. I for one would love to see Neo or one of his buddies deflecting bullets with a sword like some Hong Kong kung fu action hero.

Movie Notes: 'Matrix' Sequel Delayed

Joel Silver reportedly says the Matrix follow-ups are so "enormous" they'll need more time to finish production. Also in Movie Notes : Sam Adams drops Ben Affleck from its ad campaign.

[Snipped for Matrix]

Matrix Stuck in Production

Keanu Reeves will be trapped in the Matrix for much longer than was expected.

The sequel to the blockbuster film was supposed to be released next year. Now producer Joel Silver says it won't hit theaters until 2003, with the third installment coming sometime after.

"It's just it's an enormous project," Silver told the Sci-Fi Channel's Web site. "It's a staggering project. There's so much dealing with it, it's unbelievable."

He says the next two installments in the series are being filmed together, further delaying the process. "It's not back to back. It's one movie, so they'll finish shooting it, and then they'll take the time to finish the movies," said Silver.

Maybe the delay will give fans of the first movie a little more time to figure out that tricky plotline.

Wanna see some MATRIX II weapons?

Hey folks, Harry here... Hehehhehe, oh man... oh man oh man oh man, yes yes yes... Ya know, this is what I want to see. Let's ditch the guns and get back to basics! I want sword powers and action and badassness... ManOmanOmanOman... Yes! Yo Harry, Cynn Samhain from the Jagged*Team here. (JaggedTeam.Com)

Last night as I was looking at weapons on OrientalWeapons.Com. I found a page with the Musashi Miyamoto Daisho Katana. At the bottom of the description, it reads: "These swords were used in the upcoming movie MATRIX II." I emailed the company asking how they knew these swords to be in the movie and got this reply:

"According to manufacturer it is true however we decided to remove all CAS Iberia swords and we are not going to carry them. Regards, Darius Lachovicz Global Outlet"

I thought this would be a nice tidbit for all the really hard core Matrix fans. Personally I can't wait to see all of the awesome Matrix camera tricks used with melee weapons.

-Cynn Samhain

Aaliyah Reveals Matrix 2 Role

Aaliyah, who appears in the upcoming Matrix Reloaded and the as-yet-untitled third Matrix movie, told fans during a TeenPeople.com chat that she never shares the screen with star Keanu Reeves. "I don't even think I have a scene with him," the pop star said, according to a transcript on the Matrix Online Web site. "I'm not sure, because stuff changes, but we don't interact."

Aaliyah reportedly plays a character named Zee. "My boyfriend in the film flies their ship, but I don't do much with Neo," she said. "My character's motivation is her boyfriend. She's from Zion. Everything she does is based on him. She gets to be in some of the action in part three for her man, so it's really sweet."

The singer, who also stars in the upcoming vampire movie Queen of the Damned, said she will return to Sydney, Australia, for a month in January to shoot more footage for the Matrix sequels. The Matrix Reloaded is due out in late 2002.