Matrix 4 is filming in San Francisco

Warner Bros.’ hotly anticipated fourth instalment of the Matrix film is now filming in San Francisco with Keanu Reeves back in the lead role as Neo.

Writer-director Lana Wachowski and Reeves’ co-star Carrie Anne-Moss have also returned to ‘The Matrix’, 17 years after saying goodbye to the franchise with The Matrix Revolutions.

The cast and crew have been spotted filming in the Chinatown section of the Bay Area. Although, interestingly, first set shots show Reeves’ Neo looking nothing like the cyber-warrior familiar from the original films. The trademark black sunglasses and clothing have gone, instead Reeves just looks like his normal self with beard and all.

“We could not be more excited to be re-entering ‘The Matrix’ with Lana,” Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich said. “Lana is a true visionary — a singular and original creative filmmaker — and we are thrilled that she is writing, directing and producing this new chapter in ‘The Matrix’ universe.”

Moss and Reeves are being joined for The Matrix 4 by returning franchise actress Jada Pinkett Smith, and newcomers to the series, including Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick and Jonathan Groff. Although franchise veteran Hugo Weaving, who starred as the villainous Agent Smith will not be returning.

Plot details have not yet been released, but rumours suggest that it involves time travel and that Abdul-Mateen II is playing a younger version of Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne, in the original trilogy.

For Reeves, The Matrix 4 comes at a time when he is experiencing a career resurgence. The John Wick franchise has brought the actor back into the action movie spotlight with the third instalment grossing $326m worldwide last year.