Rumours suggest that Priyanka Chopra Jonas may star in the upcoming sequel of Hollywood movie, Matrix, alongside Keanu Reeves. While we’re still hoping for confirmation on the same, we couldn’t resist our minds from wandering and creating our own version of Matrix 4 by chalking out possible places to shoot this sci-fi blockbuster in India. By Bayar Jain
If rumours are to be believed, then India’s very own desi girl, Priyanka Chopra Jonas could be a part of the upcoming Hollywood sci-fi Matrix 4, alongside Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves – both regulars in the previous three parts. The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Neil Patrick Harris in leading roles. Earlier, Warner Bros. had decided to release the movie on May 21, 2021, but the date has been shifted by an entire year (to April 22, 2022) due to the pandemic.
Although originally set out to be a trilogy, this fourth part was officially announced by Warner Bros. on August 20, 2019, itself, coming as a welcome surprise for fans of the franchise. With the Indian star coming on board, this excitement has reached new bounds. We’ve set out on an adventure of our own and have decided to create an Indian version of the science fiction action films. If Matrix 4 were to go desi, this is where Reeves and Chopra Jonas could shoot in India.
1. Bengaluru
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What is a sci-fi technology movie without heading to the Silicon Valley of India? The movie, in its essence, features the technological fall of man, in which the creation of artificial intelligence leads the way to a race of self-aware machines. Dealing with the tussle of technology and mankind, this dystopian reality movie could easily be shot in Bengaluru – a city famous for its IT advancements. As per the movies, Neo, the protagonist, is also a quiet programmer for a software company – a sector thriving in Karnataka’s capital city.
2. Hyderabad
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Just hours away from the iconic Ramoji Film City – home grounds of mega-blockbuster movies such as Baahubali, the visual effects created here are like no other. The Matrix, too, thrives on such artistry. In the franchise, the dystopian scenes inside the matrix are almost indistinguishable from the ones in reality, and this particular film city excels at this genre. Besides, this East Indian city also doubles as a breeding ground of technology whizz-kids: an apt setup for Neo!
3. Mumbai
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If it’s an Indian movie, a scene of looking out to the Arabian Sea from the iconic Marine Drive is a must. While this may not entirely fit in with the mood of the movies, in the original films, the parts that take place in the matrix are set in a vast Western megacity. This, in the Indian context, is none other than the city of dreams itself.
4. Kolkata
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Apart from the famous ‘bullet-scene’ in The Matrix, Neo’s subway fight against Agent Smith is definitely one of the higher-ranked scenes. Kolkata, being home to India’s oldest metro system, would create for a befitting backdrop for a recreation of the scene. The unfaltering underground trains here would add to the drama, while a chase sequence in the city’s iconic trams would create a fun, desi twist.