The Matrix Co-Director Lilly Wachowski Addresses Right-Wing Misinterpretations

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Lily Wachowski, the director of the film, has addressed the way right-wing groups have embraced her famous sci-fi movie. She explained that she typically steps away from her projects once they’re out in the world, but also opened up about how she truly feels about it all.

In a recent interview on the So True with Caleb Hearon podcast, filmmaker Lilly Wachowski – along with her sister Lana, who are both trans women – discussed how she feels about right-wing groups using their film for political purposes. Wachowski explained that creators need to accept that audiences will interpret their work in different ways, regardless of the original intent. “You have to let go of your work. People are gonna interpret it however they interpret it,” she said.

While she doesn’t try to control how movies like The Matrix are interpreted, she still disagrees with many of the theories that have sprung up around them. She’s said, “Seeing the wild and often misguided ideas those films inspired, I think, ‘What are you even doing? That’s not right!’ But I realize I can’t control how everyone understands them.” She acknowledges that you can’t expect everyone to see things the way you originally intended.

The filmmakers behind The Matrix have discussed their original intentions for the movie, but the concepts of the ‘blue pill’ and ‘red pill’ have since been adopted and twisted by right-wing groups. The term ‘red-pilled’ now often refers to someone who believes they’ve become aware of a difficult or disturbing truth about society, and it’s commonly used in far-right and radical circles.

Some viewers see the film’s “red pill” as a metaphor for embracing certain beliefs, believing it represents a harsh but honest view of how society works. Neo’s journey of escaping control and fighting for humanity is often connected to resisting what some consider overly progressive ideas and a culture of political correctness.

Wachowski explained that right-wing ideology takes ideas from all sides, including the left, and twists them to fit their own agenda and hide their true intentions. This tactic, she says, is characteristic of fascism and was therefore predictable.

The Matrix Remains One of Sci-Fi’s Most Influential Franchises

First released in 1999, The Matrix is a groundbreaking cyberpunk film that has become a cultural phenomenon. Starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, the movie tells the story of a man fighting to liberate people from a powerful and oppressive system. The Matrix was immediately popular with both critics and audiences, winning four Academy Awards and leaving a lasting impact on pop culture.

The original Matrix film was so successful that it led to three sequels: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both released in 2003), and The Matrix Resurrections in 2021. Lana and Lilly Wachowski co-directed the first three movies, but Lilly didn’t direct the 2021 film. Despite this, Warner Bros. is still interested in continuing the Matrix series, though neither of the Wachowskis are currently involved as directors.

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2025-11-30 17:09