On the first day of the new millennium in 2000, Warner Bros. and Duke Studios convened a grand press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney to announce that the sequels to The Matrix were officially entering pre-production. Titled Reloaded and Revolutions, the two-part sequel would be produced through a simultaneous shoot.
Although the director had been replaced, Zack Snyder's name was no stranger to Matrix fans. He was listed as an assistant director and executive producer in the previous installment. For those more familiar with Duke, they knew that Snyder was his most trusted deputy.
In the eyes of regular fans, Duke continuing to direct would have been their ideal choice. If there had to be a change, then Zack Snyder was undoubtedly the best alternative.
The media, however, didn't see it that way. In pursuit of sensational news, most outlets were pessimistic about the sequels, even predicting that Zack Snyder might ruin what was considered a landmark in the history of sci-fi films.
The combined budget of $250 million for the two films added tremendous pressure on Snyder.
"Now I truly understand why you suffer from insomnia," Zack Snyder said, looking visibly exhausted as he walked with Duke toward the soundstage at Fox Studios.
"The pressure on a director during production is enormous. It's almost omnipresent, and I've been suffering from sleepless nights recently."
"You'll get used to it."
Patting Snyder on the shoulder, Duke walked into the enormous soundstage and said, "If you can't adapt to working under immense pressure, it'll be difficult to achieve success in this industry."
He gazed into the distance. "Zack, once you've achieved consistent success, you'll realize that intense pressure can also be a driving force."
"I'm not as open-minded as you," Snyder replied with a smile.
The two of them continued walking to the innermost part of the soundstage, stopping at the edge of a training area. Just like before the first movie's shoot, the entire cast had gathered in Sydney for a grueling "hellish" training regimen.
Inside the training area, the lead actors appeared more relaxed than they had a few years ago. Most of the original cast returned for the sequels. Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Laurence Fishburne, and Duke's long-time collaborator Hugo Weaving were all present, performing basic flexibility exercises with the assistance of their aides.
Some changes had been made, however. For instance, the action coordinator was no longer Yuen Woo-ping.
After the success of the first installment, Yuen Woo-ping became one of the most sought-after action choreographers in Hollywood. With the sequels in development, he was in a position to demand a sky-high fee, setting his price at $8 million for the two films and refusing to budge.
He had the credentials to justify such a demand. The Matrix and Rush Hour were both smash hits, injecting new vitality into Hollywood's action scenes. Judging by the audience response to these films, Western viewers were thoroughly entertained by the dazzling fight choreography.
"Kung Fu" became a buzzword in the North American film industry—a trend Hollywood was temporarily unable to address.
Yuen Woo-ping was an exceptionally rare resource and had every reason to ask for a high price.
However, Duke, Warner Bros., and Zack Snyder were unwilling to pay such a steep price. The actors' salaries for the sequels were already exorbitant, and the crew had an alternative in mind.
During the production of the first Matrix, Duke had been in contact with Tiger Chen and his colleagues through Jimmy Carter and Robin Grande. Tiger Chen was a young and ambitious talent with innovative ideas. His expertise extended beyond traditional Kung Fu, incorporating various close-combat techniques that aligned more with Hollywood's evolving action style.
For just one-third of Yuen Woo-ping's asking price, Warner Bros. secured Tiger Chen and some of his colleagues.
Correspondingly, the fight scenes in Reloaded and Revolutions would undergo appropriate adjustments. While the choreography would retain a foundational element of Kung Fu, the more flamboyant and impractical aspects would be reduced. The action would aim for a cooler, sharper, and more direct approach.
Duke's reasoning was simple: Kung Fu's lifespan in North America was inherently short. By the time the sequels, which required a lengthy production period, were ready for release, audiences might have grown tired of such styles. Thus, integrating different elements into the action sequences was essential to avoid aesthetic fatigue and align with Hollywood's future trends.
As with technological advancements, stagnation in action choreography would only lead to obsolescence.
These adjustments were relatively minor. In terms of the story, however, more significant changes were made. Much like the first installment, Duke decisively removed overly esoteric elements from the scripts. While Reloaded had been a box office success, the philosophical musings and cryptic storytelling had significantly constrained Revolutions' market performance.
Why did audiences embrace the series? Was it really, as critics suggested, because the films offered profound philosophical reflections?
Duke and Zack Snyder knew the real reasons behind the series' popularity.
"Hey, Duke."
After the training session, Keanu Reeves approached, wiping sweat from his hands with a towel handed to him by an assistant. Shaking hands with Duke, he said, "It's great that we're working together again."
"Yes, Keanu," Duke replied, patting his arm. "Looks like your training isn't too difficult."
Reeves laughed. "The hardest part is already behind us."
Pointing to his sweat-soaked training uniform, he added, "I'll go shower and change first. We'll talk later."
Back in November, Zack Snyder had already arrived in Sydney. The project had been delayed until now partly because of Keanu Reeves.
Now a top-tier star, Reeves had gained considerable bargaining power in negotiations with Warner Bros. and Duke Studios. While the character Neo had earned him a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Actor, it had also elevated him into the ranks of Hollywood's elite actors.
In Hollywood, actor salaries for sequels were often a significant headache. Studios rarely risked replacing lead actors due to the potential backlash from audiences. This dynamic gave actors considerable leverage, leading to escalating production costs. Reloaded and Revolutions were no exceptions.
The average production cost for each film was $125 million, with a significant portion allocated to actor salaries. Keanu Reeves commanded a staggering $20 million per film, along with a 10% share of North American box office profits.
Charlize Theron, the lead actress, earned an impressive $15 million, cementing her position as one of Hollywood's highest-paid female stars.
This was an unavoidable reality. To mitigate these costs, Warner Bros. and Duke Studios sought to minimize profit-sharing agreements by increasing upfront payments.
High salaries for top-tier actors were inevitable. Hollywood's A-list and super-A-list actors represented scarce resources within the film industry. Their appeal and influence were indispensable, akin to top directors like Duke and Spielberg or major studios.
These individuals formed the apex of Hollywood's hierarchy. Without them, major studios wouldn't be willing to offer actors profit shares exceeding 25% in the future.
In a highly commercialized society like Hollywood, those who reached the pinnacle of any industry were impossible to overlook.
"Hello, Hugo. Didn't expect to see you again so soon."
After greeting Hugo Weaving, Duke met Tiger Chen, who introduced a Hong Kong actor who would play the Oracle's guardian angel.
Initially, Warner Bros. had considered Jet Li for this role. Known for his martial arts prowess, Jet Li was offered $3 million for the part, which involved limited screen time. Unexpectedly, he demanded a staggering $13 million.
That figure rivaled the salaries of many A-list stars in commercial films. Warner Bros. and Duke Studios rejected the offer without hesitation, instead hiring a Hong Kong actor surnamed Zou through Tiger Chen for just $200,000.
The decision required no deliberation.
After greeting the cast, Duke prepared to leave. Charlize Theron hurried over, looking flustered.
"Duke…" she called out, nearly running. "Do you have time? It's been so long since we had dinner together."
"Sorry, Charlize." Duke sighed, glancing at Zack Snyder, who was waiting for him. "Zack and I need to meet with Warner's representatives and some sponsors. We'll have to postpone."
"What a pity," Charlize replied with visible disappointment.
After a brief exchange, Duke headed for the exit. A dozen sponsors were waiting for him. Having contributed $30 million in advertising sponsorship for the films, Duke couldn't afford to miss the meeting.
Once the sponsor meeting was over, Duke would fly to Los Angeles to attend a preparatory meeting for another project of great importance. That project was titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
The young wizard was about to embark on his journey!