The Matrix Resurrections’ Incredible John Wick Cameo Explained

The Matrix Resurrections includes an incredible John Wick cameo that likely would’ve gone over most viewers’ heads, but it is quite perfect. In the fourth sequel to The Matrix franchise there’s a heavy lean on the meta aspects of the film and The Matrix itself. Both Keanu Reeves’ Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity are reintroduced into the new version of The Matrix and are carrying on with very different lives than what audiences saw in the original trilogy. Neo is now a game designer, having made the “original Matrix trilogy” in video game form and Trinity is a married mom with kids who builds motorcycles. Who Trinity is married to is of most interest, however, as it’s a very familiar face, albeit usually from behind the scenes.

Chad Stahelski is a stunt coordinator and director who has worked on numerous high-profile films throughout his career. One of his first big gigs was as the body double for Brandon Lee after his tragic death on the set of The Crow. Lee’s face was digitally put on Stahelski’s body for shots needed to finish the film, which was the first-ever time that was done on a Hollywood production. Afterwards, Stahelski served as Reeves’ stunt double on the original The Matrix trilogy, helping to coordinate fight scenes and develop the action for the film. He later formed the renowned action design stunt team 87Eleven with director David Leitch, who he co-directed the first John Wick film with. Afterwards, Stahelski took over the franchise, while Leitch went off on his own as well, directing films like Deadpool 2 and Hobbs & Shaw.

In The Matrix Resurrections, Stahelski shows up as Trinity’s husband within the new Matrix, where he mostly serves to pull her away from the influence of Neo, always under the guise of a family emergency. His appearance in the film serves as a meta connection, seeing as he was Reeves’ stunt double in the original The Matrix trilogy, now acting as the faux love interest to Trinity in Resurrections. It’s equally ironic, as Stahelski has gone on to be a director himself, now spearheading the John Wick series, having directed John Wick 2-4 on his own, with the fifth film on the way.

John Wick Director Chad Stahelski Plays Chad In The Matrix Resurrections

Stahelski’s Chad aka “Handsome Chad” in The Matrix Resurrections can be viewed as a simple cameo, but his connection to Reeves, director Lana Wachowski, and The Matrix franchise itself makes his appearance that much more compelling. Reeves recently commented on Stahelski’s appearance in the film, saying that he and Wachowski have “a real affection for each other.” Reeves went on to explain that there was a lot that Wachowski “was trying to interweave in terms of life and art for all of the people in the film and artists in the film” punctuating the meta vibe of the movie as a whole. However, Reeves believes that Wachowski found humor in Stahelski being the husband to Trinity’s Matrix counterpart, called Tiffany in the film, because in a way, he, too, played Neo in the original Matrix films. Looking at it from that perspective, Trinity was still with Neo (behind the scenes, at least). At the end of the film, Chad tries to pull Trinity away from Neo one last time, when she resists and takes him down, just after his eyes glaze over, revealing that he’s a part of The Matrix.

Chad Stahelski’s History With The Matrix

After serving as Keanu Reeves’ stunt double in the first The Matrix film, Stahelski was promoted to stunt coordinator for The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. In that role, he started to learn the ins and outs of filmmaking, saying that he “went to Wachowski film school” while working on the films. On set, Stahelski earned tremendous respect and formed bonds with crew members that have lasted to this day. Stahelski said that he was “shocked” by the script for The Matrix Resurrections, which Wachowski sent him at the prospect of him working on the film. Instead, he was hired to act in the film, which is an uncommon ask for the prolific director/stunt coordinator. The director has said that that Wachowski and her crew have followed along from production to production ever since the first film, with many of them still friends that talk regularly.  With Reeves, Stahelski cites “the same creative interests” (via THR) as what keeps them working together all the way up to the John Wick franchise, saying that they “just like to work on stuff that we love.”

Why Chad Stahelski In The Matrix 4 Is Perfect Meta Casting

With Stahelski’s intense involvement with the original trilogy of The Matrix and his deep professional relationship with Reeves, it makes his appearance as an actor in The Matrix Resurrections perfect meta casting. Having been there from the beginning and then launched his own career from it, becoming a major Hollywood player in his own right, Stahelski’s resume makes him a clever nod to The Matrix Resurrections set up. The film pokes fun at reboot culture, as well as franchise filmmaking on the whole, which Stahelski is now deeply ingrained in, ironically, with Reeves in the John Wick franchise.

It’s a head-spinning connection that can be drawn out in several different ways, be it a simple guest appearance to a metaphorical deep dive into his role as a stunt double, stunt coordinator and mainstay to the franchise. Furthermore, it’s a bit humorous considering John Wick 4 was originally slated to release on the same day as The Matrix Resurrections, which means that both Reeves and Stahelski would’ve been either on-screen or behind the scenes on two films on the same day. John Wick may be entirely separate from The Matrix series, but it has its start there. However it’s viewed, it’s nothing short of a cool inclusion, as The Matrix Resurrections is all about legacy and love, which Stahelski has shared in with the franchise from the beginning.

Next: Why The Matrix Resurrections Reviews Are So Mixed

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