The upcoming Matrix 5 film promises to shake things up with its bold and inventive subversions of genre expectations. Directed by Drew Goddard, the movie will be the first entry in the franchise without the direct involvement of The Wachowskis. To stand out from past entries, the new film should introduce a particularly revolutionary aspect of the mythos: Self-Substantiation.
In the original film, Neo is offered a choice between the red pill and the blue pill by Morpheus. This concept has yet to make its first appearance in live-action, but it could turn even long-time Matrix movie fans on their heads. The ability allows someone within the Matrix to free themselves from its insidious influence by sheer force of will, circumventing the need for the red pill entirely.
This concept was first introduced in The Animatrix’s “World Record,” where athlete Dan Davis wakes up from the simulation by himself after pushing his body and mind to the limit during a sprint. This means that Neo, who is “The One” and thus the savior of the entire franchise, must be told the true nature of his reality by way of Morpheus offering him the red pill.
However, this limitation was established in the first film: one cannot escape the Matrix without outside assistance. The new protagonist of this film should achieve something entirely new and extraordinary that even Neo was unable to accomplish on his own. This would allow the film to boldly assert itself as a brave reinvention of the franchise that pushes the boundaries of what’s come before.
By introducing Self-Substantiation, the Matrix 5 can finally deliver on the franchise’s ultimate untold prequel story. This concept has been cryptically mentioned in live-action before, but never seen. The film would place viewers in a story that respects what has come before, builds upon the lesser-known legends of the universe, and opens the door to an exciting new reality of unknown cinematic achievements.
Source: https://screenrant.com/matrix-5-main-character-self-substation-power-use/