The Matrix 4 is officially happening with Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss

Enlarge / We assume the next Matrix film's title will be different than this. But will it be better? After "Reloaded" and "Revolutions," well, we don't know. (credit: Aurich Lawson)

It's official: the Matrix film series is coming back with a fourth numbered entry. And it will see the return of original trilogy stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss to their respective roles as Neo and Trinity.

Lana Wachowski, who served as co-writer and co-director for all three original trilogy films alongside sibling Lilly, has been confirmed as the sole Wachowski family member (so far) in the writer/director chair. Wachowski will be joined by Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell as co-writers, whose names will likely be familiar to Wachowski fans. Mitchell's novel Cloud Atlas was eventually developed into a feature-length film by the Wachowskis, while Mitchell and Hemon co-wrote much of the Wachowski-helmed Netflix series Sense8.

Warner Bros. Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich on Tuesday gave an official statement on the matter, telling Variety, "We could not be more excited to be re-entering The Matrix with Lana... We are thrilled that she is writing, directing and producing this new chapter in The Matrix universe." In the same report, Wachowski told Variety, "Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now. I'm very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends."