How Matrix Resurrections Subtly Mocks Brexit

Did you catch the hidden Brexit critique in The Matrix Resurrections? Ever since a fresh-faced Keanu Reeves followed the white rabbit in 1999, The Matrix has provided dystopian political commentary aplenty – sometimes subtle, other times not so much. Given everything that’s transpired over the past 20 years (or even just the last 5), Lana Wachowski had no shortage of politically-tinged material for The Matrix Resurrections. There’s criticism of corporate culture, pointed barbs toward misinformation, and the Analyst’s Matrix design can be interpreted as a physical representation of social media, where “bots” drive the Machines’ agenda. Also on The Matrix Resurrections‘ political dartboard is the United Kingdom’s decision to depart the EU – a process known by the deceptively jovial nickname “Brexit.”

For those fortunate enough to have avoided the Brexit issue, here’s a potted history. In 2016, the UK government held a referendum determining whether to leave the EU, following years of right-wing pressure. The population narrowly elected to depart, but the Leave campaign has since been found to have deceived voters about Brexit’s benefits. Indeed, 2 years since the split became official, the finer points of Brexit continue to cause issues in supply chains, border control and international relations – particularly in Northern Ireland. A core sentiment behind Brexit was the perception of the EU as an outdated, weakening alliance that the UK would prosper without – and that’s where The Matrix Resurrections‘ Brexit Easter egg comes in.

When a newly-reawakened Neo is given the grand tour of Bugs’ Mnemosyne ship, Keanu Reeves’ character strolls past the vessel’s official name plaque, which reads “Mark III No. 19. Mnemosyne. Made In The EU. Year 2274.” Morpheus’ ship in the original Matrix trilogy, the Nebuchadnezzar, had a similar plaque reading “Made In The USA. Year 2069.”

It’s no secret that humanity did not fare well in The Matrix‘s fictional history. The Machine War broke out sometime around 2139 (see The Animatrix), meaning the Nebuchadnezzar was constructed before the onset of hostilities between metal and flesh. Human society collapsed one structural foundation as a time – including the United Nations, which surrendered to the Machines unconditionally. By 2274, humanity was basically defeated in The Matrix‘s timeline but, according to The Matrix Resurrections, the EU remained intact, building ships that would ultimately pave the way for mankind’s comeback.

The EU surviving so long into The Matrix‘s fictional history feels like a tacit commentary from Lana Wachowski, championing the importance of worldwide togetherness and cooperation. The UK voted to leave the EU believing it would be stronger alone – but in The Matrix Resurrections, the EU is one of the last remnants of human society. The Mnemosyne plaque is subtly mocking the isolated nationalist ideals at the heart of Brexit, suggesting humanity only survived The Matrix‘s dystopian future thanks to the existence of multi-national alliances like the EU, which were still contributing to the war long after Earth had been beset by an AI menace.

The Matrix Resurrections‘ Brexit sleight speaks to the broader difference between Zion and Io in Lana Wachowski’s long-awaited sequel. According to Niobe, Zion couldn’t shake its “us and them” mentality, whereas Io chose to accept machines and programs alongside its human population, creating a multi-cultural society that thrived more than Morpheus’ ill-fated underground city.

About The Author

Craig Elvy
(3630 Articles Published)

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Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig’s interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own.
Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS.

Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer.
Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy.

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