3 The Matrix Characters That Deserve Their Own Spinoff

The Matrix has always been about more than red and blue pills and Keanu Reeves’ Neo dodging bullets in slo-mo. Across four films, an animated anthology, and other tie-in stories, the Wachowskis built a dense sci-fi mythology filled with side characters who are just as intriguing as the elemental trio of Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus. While The Matrix Resurrections brought back some familiar faces and reintroduced us to the mind-bending world, there are still tons of stories left untold.

Videos by ComicBook.com

When you look beyond the One, you can see a wealth of supporting personalities with their own philosophies and mysteries worth exploring. They can help uncover the roots of prophecy inside the simulation, fill in unexplained gaps in the war against the Machines, or follow the next generation of rebels who picked up Neo’s mantle. Thier spinoffs might trace their origin stories or thier unfinished business, but regardless, these three characters all have the dimension to carry their own titles.

3) Tank

Tank was one of the standout characters in the original The Matrix. Played by Marcus Chong, he was the ship’s operator on the Nebuchadnezzar and brought a much-needed optimism to the otherwise nihilistic crew. Unlike many of his crewmates, Tank was born free in Zion rather than harvested by the Machines, so he’s got a totally unique perspective. He wasn’t a fighter like Neo or Trinity, but he could think on his feet, and he was loyal. Therefore, he became indispensable, always rooting Neo from the operator’s chair.

Fans were shocked when Tank never returned in the sequels. Within the story, it was only briefly mentioned that he died off-screen. Outside the story, the real reason had to do with disputes between Chong and Warner Bros., leaving his arc unresolved. A spinoff could finally give Tank the closure he deserves, exploring what happened to him in the aftermath of the first movie. Did he die in battle? Was he betrayed? Did he go on some kind of inner journey before being lost to the war? Filling in the blanks would be incredibly satisfying for longtime fans.

More than that, a Tank story would provide a completely human perspective in a world run by programs and prophecies. A limited series tracking his life after the Nebuchadnezzar could show how he processed the trauma of losing most of his crew and how he carried on the fight before his death. It would probably be a real tearjerker. By telling this untold history through the character’s boyant optimism, a Tank spinoff could remind us that even the smallest fighters in the war against the Machines made massive sacrifices.

2) The Oracle

One of the most enigmatic figures in The Matrix, The Oracle is a sapient program vital to the structure of the Matrix itself, designed to divine anomalies and guide the heroes toward their destiny. Introduced in the first film, she’s the one who tells Neo he’s not yet the One, setting him on the path. In The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, she evolves into a central figure in the Machine-Human conflict, helping pull strings from behind the scenes. She’s a lovely old lady who bakes and smokes, and can also see multiple futures; a juxtaposition that makes her one of the most compelling characters in the franchise.

A spinoff centered on The Oracle could pull back the curtain on how she identifies potential “Ones” across different cycles of the Matrix. Neo wasn’t the first anomaly, and the films hinted at countless previous versions of the simulation where other chosen figures rose and fell. Watching the Oracle mentor children, such as the spoon-bending boy, or uncover gifted anomalies, would expand the mythology without relying on Reeves’ return. It would also give fans a glimpse into the immense work that went into finally discovering Neo as the true One.

The Oracle was portrayed by Gloria Foster in the first two films, and after her passing, Mary Alice stepped into the role for Revolutions. A good spinoff might honor Foster’s original interpretation by showing us an earlier era of the Oracle’s journey. Imagine a spiritual detective story; a Matrix prequel, where the Oracle navigates the politics of the Machine world while baking cookies for the rebels she nurtures. She is perhaps the character best suited for a spinoff that would beef up the mythology and enrich the lore as a whole.

1) Kid

Among the more underrated characters in The Matrix universe is Michael Karl Popper, better known as “Kid.” First appearing in The Animatrix short Kid’s Story, he’s a rare individual who managed to free himself from the Matrix without outside help. After being contacted by Neo, the Kid runs from Agents in a harrowing skateboard chase before essentially “waking up” through sheer force of will. That alone makes him one of the most intriguing figures in the canon, as even Neo needed help escaping the system.

In the live-action films, the Kid pops up in The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions as a hyper-enthusiastic believer in Neo’s cause. He’s the one constantly proclaiming his loyalty and even helps defend Zion in its darkest hour. While his appearances are short and brief, they hint at a larger story and have left many fans wanting more. How does a kid who literally pulled himself out of the Matrix become a leader in humanity’s resistance? His arc could be a counterpoint to Neo’s, and a way to freshly revive what made The Matrix so great in the first place, without a full-blown reboot.

A Kid spinoff might also become a bridge between the Animatrix and the mainline films, and maybe even set up a storyline that reaches beyond Revolutions. The series could follow him into his role as a resistance leader, struggling to live up to Neo’s legacy while forging his own path. With elements of a coming-of-age story in a cyberpunk action adventure, Kid’s show or movie could be the perfect distillation of what The Matrix is really about: free will, and the idea that anyone (not just the chosen One) can fight back against the system.

Which Matrix character would you want to see get their own spinoff story? Let us know your thoughts in a comment below, and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!