Neo (The Matrix)

This article is about the fictional character. For the musician, see Neo da Matrix.
Neo
The Matrix character
Keanu Reeves as Neo in The Matrix (1999)
First appearanceThe Matrix (1999)
Last appearanceThe Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Created byThe Wachowskis
Portrayed byKeanu Reeves
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full nameThomas A. Anderson
AliasNeo
Nicknames
  • The Anomaly (name for him given by the machines)
  • Mr. Anderson (Agent Smith calls him by his Matrix name)
SpeciesHuman
GenderMale
TitleThe One
OccupationHacker
The One, an anagram for Neo
Former software engineer (in the Matrix simulation)
Former video game developer (in the Matrix simulation)
FamilyMichelle McGahey (mother)
John Anderson (father)
SpouseTrinity (since The Matrix Reloaded)
NationalityAmerican
Fighting styleJeet Kune Do
Taekwondo
Drunken boxing
Savate
Kenpō (Karate)
Jiu-Jitsu
Krav Maga
Budo
Wushu
Age28 (The Matrix–Revolutions)
88 (biologically 48; Resurrections)

Neo (born as Thomas A. Anderson, also known as The One, an anagram for Neo) is a fictional character and the protagonist of The Matrix franchise, created by the Wachowskis. He was portrayed as a cybercriminal and computer programmer by Keanu Reeves in the films, as well as having a cameo in The Animatrix short film Kid's Story. Andrew Bowen provided Neo's voice in The Matrix: Path of Neo.[1] In 2021, Reeves reprised his role in The Matrix Resurrections[2] with what Vulture calls "his signature John Wick look".[3]

In 2008, Neo was selected by Empire as the 68th Greatest Movie Character of All Time.[1] "Neo" is also an anagram of "one", a reference to his destiny of being The One who would bring peace.[4] There are claims that a nightclub in Chicago inspired the name of the character.[5][6] Neo is considered to be a superhero.[7][8][9]

  1. ^ a b "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters/ 16. Neo / Empire / www.empireonline.com". Empire. Bauer Consumer Media. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  2. ^ "The Matrix Resurrections trailer: Neo disappears back down the rabbit hole". The Guardian. 9 September 2021. In the first trailer for The Matrix Resurrections, it seems that when the Matrix was rebooted at the end of 2003's middling third instalment, the Neo we once knew also seems to have been wiped from existence. In his place is a beardy, incredibly well-aged fiftysomething who looks a bit like John Wick, or possibly that brooding weirdo from The Gift.
  3. ^ Newby, Richard (2021-09-09). "Everything We Know About The Matrix Resurrections So Far". Vulture. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  4. ^ Nutu, Ela (2006). Black, Fiona C. (ed.). Red Herrings in Bullet-Time: The Matrix, the Bible, and the Postcommunist I*. Society of Biblical Lit. p. 71. ISBN 9781589831469. Retrieved 12 August 2014. the name Neo can, in fact, be an anagram for 'one'. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Neo - Chicago Bar Project Review". www.chibarproject.com. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Whoa! Neo Announces Weekend DJs as Nightclub Preps Move". 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  7. ^ Lee, Nathaniel (August 13, 2018). "How one film can fix the superhero genre". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  8. ^ Sternbergh, Adam (4 February 2019). "The Matrix Taught Superheroes to Fly". Vulture.com. Vox Media. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  9. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (2008). The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, 2d ed. McFarland & Company. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7864-3755-9.