One of the most colorful characters in the Matrix trilogy is Morpheus. He acts as the undisputed leader, a strong and confident person. What role does Morpheus play in the development of the plot of the trilogy, and which of the Hollywood actors became the screen embodiment of the hero?
What role does the character play in the plot of Part I
In the first part of the trilogy, published in 1999, Morpheus (Lawrence Fishborn) does not appear immediately in the frame. First, Thomas Andersen (Keanu Reeves) hears about a terrorist with the same name that all law enforcement agencies prey on. Thomas is trying to find Morpheus, although he does not fully understand why he needs it.
But Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) appears on the horizon. She meets Andersen, and then leads him to Morpheus. He tells Neo
what a matrix is. Morpheus offers Neo to get out of the matrix, wake up and start another life. But he warns that this path will not be easy.
Morpheus gives Neo a special red pill. The main character drinks it, leaves the illusory matrix and wakes up in the real world. Morpheus saves Neo from cars and takes the Nebuchadnezzar into his ship.
The hero teaches Thomas effective interaction with the matrix. Prepares for a great battle that will decide the outcome of the war between cars and people.
Morpheus blindly believes in the prediction of Pythia that Neo is the chosen one. He infects everyone around him with his faith, although there are many skeptics who taunt such confidence in Thomas. In the end, it turns out that Morpheus was right: in Neo lies an unprecedented power that in the future will help mankind overcome the parasitic matrix system.
Morpheus and part II of the trilogy
In the second part of the film “The Matrix,” Morpheus and Neo continue to look for an opportunity to bring down the matrix and free people from cars. But this time, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that in the real world hordes of cars are rushing to the human city of Zion. If you do not de-energize the matrix during the day, then all free people in the real world will die and there will be no one to fight for freedom.
Morpheus and Neo go to Pythia. The fortuneteller advises finding a Key Master who can open a loophole in the system for Neo so that he gets to the main computer.
Morpheus, Neo and Trinity go for the Key Master to the conceited and greedy information merchant Merovingen. But he does not want to give up his "booty." A scuffle ensues. Morpheus and Trinity are trying to take the Key Masters to a safe place, but they are being followed on the heels of the agents of the system and the fighters of Merovingen. In the end, Neo decides the outcome of the battle.
The master of keys helps Neo get to the main computer, Morpheus supports his pupil. But Neo's plan fails, as the architect claims that if the matrix is de-energized, all the people who are connected to it will die. Neo does not like this outcome, and he leaves with nothing.
Morpheus in the third part of the trilogy
In the final part of the Matrix franchise, Morpheus plays a more modest role. After his team’s attempts to bring down the matrix failed, Morpheus had no choice but to return to Zion with the rest of the ships to help defend the city.
While Neo made his way to the City of Cars to fulfill his mission, Morpheus, along with Captain Nebo (his longtime lover), tried to bypass hordes of hunters and break into Zion. His ship managed to do this at the very last moment before the gates were closed.
Morpheus took part in the defense of Zion, until Neo saved the inhabitants of the city at the cost of his life.
Morpheus in The Matrix: the actor who played the role
The role of Morpheus could get Sean Connery, but the actor did not like the script. Then they wanted to give the character to Val Kilmer, but Lawrence Fishborn was more convincing on the samples.
Lawrence is a native of Brooklyn. Parents noticed the acting talent of their child when he was still in elementary school. Larry began to attend an acting studio, and already at the age of 10 he made his debut on the stage.
Fishborne's career was subsequently firmly connected with the theater. He mastered the profession of theater director and began to stage performances on his own.
As for the movie, Lawrence collaborated with many venerable directors. But the role of Morpheus in the trilogy “The Matrix” became significant for him.
Who voiced Morpheus in The Matrix, which was in the Russian box office? Lawrence Fishborn was duplicated by Vladimir Vikhrov. Vikhrov is also often voiced by George Clooney: a Hollywood star speaks with his voice in the films American, I would like to go to heaven, Burn After Reading, and Ocean's Thirteen Friends. Photos of Morpheus from The Matrix are presented in the article.
Projects featuring Lawrence Fishbourne
Lawrence Fishborn is a frequent guest in Francis Ford Coppola's paintings. He played Tyron Miller in Apocalypse Today, Midget in Fighting Fish, Bumpy in Cotton Club and a cameo in Rock Gardens.
The film “Othello”, shot in 1995, is unique. Lawrence was the first black actor to play Othello in the film adaptation of Shakespeare's work. Critics also praised Fishbourne's work in the drama Boys Next Door.