Laurence Fishburne is reflecting on the intense preparation behind The Matrix.
During an appearance at New York Comic Con on Oct. 12, the 64-year-old actor joined former costar Joe Pantoliano to discuss the making of the iconic sci-fi film. Fishburne revealed that he and Keanu Reeves trained for nearly 10 months to master their legendary dojo fight scene.
We trained for six months before we got to Australia. We got to Australia. We continued practicing the fight for at least four months before we shot it. Then we shot it over like three days. And we had never done it full out. Like we had always marked it. We had never really used all of our physical energy to do it.
Fishburne shared.
The Emmy winner said the physically demanding shoot left both actors bruised.
So we shot it, I think it was on a Friday, the first time we took a shot at it. And by the end of however many takes that we did, both Keanu and I were black and blue with bruises on our forearms. ’Cause we had never made contact like that before.
That’s how committed we all were to doing this thing. Cause we knew that they had a vision and they communicated with us very well with what they were trying to do.
he added.
Pantoliano described the sequence as “a ballet,” emphasizing its continuous style and minimal cuts a technique that redefined action filmmaking.
This is the first time where the actors were actually doing the kung fu. And then, as a result of its success, everybody copied it — but poorly and badly with multi-cuts and tight shots. And if you look at The Matrix, it really is a symphony compared to what we see today.
he said.
Originally released in 1999, The Matrix starred Fishburne, Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Gloria Foster, spawning two sequels and a 2021 follow-up, The Matrix Resurrections.
Earlier this year, Fishburne told The View he’d be open to returning to the franchise under the right conditions.
It depends on the circumstances — who is involved, how well the script has been written, if they offer me. Cause, you know, I offered my services to the fourth Matrix, and they didn’t respond well.
he said.
“So hey, it’s not like I didn’t say, ‘Oh, I’d like to offer my services.’ I did. And for whatever reason, that didn’t happen. Okay. But that’s the truth. “So we’ll see.”
he added.
The Matrix trilogy is currently streaming on Tubi.
Source: People