The Matrix Resurrections: Jonathan Groff on playing the new Agent Smith

The Matrix Resurrections will find Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne-Moss returning as their iconic characters Neo and Trinity, but the film will also see a few more Matrix characters returning in new forms. It was previously reported that Jonathan Groff would be playing Thomas Anderson’s “slick and confident” business partner,” but the latest trailer for The Matrix Resurrections revealed that his character seems to be the latest incarnation of Agent Smith.

While speaking with Games Radar, Jonathan Groff spoke about playing this new version of Agent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections. “[Director] Lana [Washowski] was interested in the new programming of certain characters,” Groff said. “And so, as far as giving nods or winks or references to things that had happened previously, I allowed her to drive the car and would be ready and willing to do anything she asked for at any moment. So, the process for me was making something my own and trusting her to mold and shift it as it went along.” Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith is so distinctive that it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking on the role, but judging by what we’ve seen in The Matrix Resurrections trailers, Groff seems to have done his homework. The actor recently spoke with Jake Hamilton and said that he spent a lot of time watching clips of Weaving’s work, particularly a supercut of every time Agent Smith said, “Mr. Anderson” in the series.

I spent so much time watching him, and looking at clips of him, there’s a YouTube [clip] of him saying ‘Mr Anderson’, every time he says it, that I watched repeatedly. Just cuts of him saying ‘Mr Anderson’.

The first reactions to The Matrix Resurrections began rolling out last night, with most praising the film while admitting that it’s sure to be divisive upon release.

In addition to Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix Resurrections also stars Yahya Abdul Mateen-II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Christina Ricci, Telma Hopkins, Eréndira Ibarra, Tony Onwumere, Max Riemelt, Brian J. Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith. The Matrix: Resurrections will hit theaters on December 22nd and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.