It’s been approximately 25 years since The Matrix first hit movie screens. If that seems surprisingly long, consider that the characters in it still used phone booths and that wi-fi was a relatively new concept. “Bullet time” and “red-pilled” have now become part of the lexicon, and the sibling co-directors who passed as male at the time are both now out as trans women, adding new meaning to the double-life metaphors in the film.
Follow the White Rabbit
McFarlane Toys originally made figures for the two Matrix sequels — the now-defunct N2 Toys had the rights to the first film — but now they’re doing two from the original. They’re non-posable plastic statues, but then again, so were most of their first Matrix figures. Part of the current 6-inch Movie Maniacs line, they include permanently attached display bases, trading cards and card-holders, and a mystery item that tends to be either a sticker or a mini-poster.
Neo and Trinity, unsurprisingly, are the figures. Neo stands in his bullet-blocking pose, hand outstretched, recognizing his power as The One. Trinity is frozen in her levitation kick, the signature pose everyone remembers. Both feature bases that display rifts in the Matrix, as solid objects give way to green code. They run $24.99 apiece. Whoa.
Though the recent Matrix Resurrections appeared specifically designed to end the franchise, it’s getting new life in the form of a Drew Goddard-directed spin-off, about which we know little. But the Wachowskis have let others play in their sandbox before with The Animatrix, and that worked out. Who wants to bet McFarlane Toys are boosting the relationship with WB now, so that if the spin-off becomes a hit they’re first in line to do new toys? In the meantime, at least the Trinity figure seems like a must-have. Even if she were articulated, you’d likely display her in that pose anyway.
Check out a few images below.
