Lilly Wachowski Blasts Fascists Co-opting “Red Pilling” From ‘The Matrix’

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The Matrix films are known as exciting science fiction, but creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski also filled them with deep symbolism exploring themes like technology, religion, and gender. This complexity, while appealing to some, can also lead to misunderstandings. A prime example is the ‘red pill’ – originally a symbol of breaking free from a simulated reality within the movie – which has been adopted by conspiracy theorists and far-right groups to represent a supposed awakening to political manipulation and media control. Lilly Wachowski has spoken about this misuse of her story, expressing both frustration and acceptance that, as a creator, she must relinquish control over how her work is interpreted.

During an appearance on the So True with Caleb Hearon podcast, Wachowski explained how people have understood her work, saying:

It’s important to accept that people will interpret your work in their own way. I see all sorts of wild theories and interpretations surrounding ‘The Matrix,’ things I never intended, and it’s frustrating. But I have to let go of trying to control how everyone understands it, because you can’t possibly get everyone to see things exactly as you do.

Look, as a creator, Lana Wachowski gets that once you put something out there, people are going to see what they see. But she recently shared how genuinely upsetting it’s been to watch the ideas behind The Matrix get twisted and deliberately used to justify harmful beliefs. She explained that seeing her work intentionally used to manipulate others has been particularly frustrating.

Right-wing ideologies co-opt ideas from all sides, including those originating from the left. They twist these ideas to serve their own purposes and disguise their true message – a tactic often seen in fascism. This happens with everything, and we’re seeing it now with attempts to frame biased concepts as ‘scientific gender.’ They take commonly understood ideas about human nature and life, and distort them, effectively stripping those ideas of their original meaning and significance.

How ‘The Matrix’ Impacted Lilly Wachowski


Warner Bros.

While not the first sci-fi film to tackle deep philosophical questions, The Matrix uniquely combined these ideas with thrilling action and groundbreaking visual effects. The original 1999 film became a surprise hit, and its popularity grew with home video releases, building a dedicated fanbase. The franchise expanded with three sequels, animated series, video games, and other projects. Though any creator would value such a strong cultural impact, Wachowski has shared that she now prioritizes the artistic process itself over the fame her work has achieved.

She confessed:

I used to focus on how many people would see my work, but now I create simply for the joy of making things. My recent project, Trash Mountain, was about the experience of creation itself, not about what happened afterward. As an artist, I’m trying to fully immerse myself in the present moment. It took me time to reach this perspective, but now I want to savor each day of the creative process. Filmmaking is special because it brings together a community of artists to transform an idea into something real and new.

She reflected on the impact of The Matrix, saying that while it was considered successful, she believes artists often overvalue that kind of achievement and it isn’t always true success.

After moving past her work on The Matrix, Lana Wachowski developed The Matrix Resurrections in 2021 all on her own. Now, Drew Goddard is working on a new Matrix movie, and neither Lana nor her sister Lilly Wachowski are participating in its creation.

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2025-11-28 23:03