10 Best Matrix Characters Who Only Appeared Once

Between unsung heroes and characters who embrace the cyberpunk aesthetic, their one-time appearances in the series leave Matrix fans wanting more.

The Matrix Resurrections might not have been the jaw-dropping legacy sequel that fans had hoped for, especially as fan-favorite villain Cypher never returned. Cypher only appeared in the first movie in the franchise, and given how the fourquel is built on a foundation of self-awareness and meta jokes, there are loads of ways he could have returned.

However, the villain isn’t the only great character who has only appeared once in the series. Regardless of the quality of some of the Matrix movies, they’re full of fascinating characters with inventive powers. Between unsung heroes and characters who embrace the cyberpunk aesthetic, their one-time appearances leave fans wanting more.

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Jude

The Matrix series has been noticeably sparse in humor, but it doesn’t necessarily need it, and it’s part of what sets the series apart from other huge franchises. However, it seemed as if The Matrix Resurrections tried balancing that scale, as there was arguably too much comic relief.

Jude was one of the many outlets for comedy in the new movie, but in this instance, it completely worked. Jude is one of Neo’s annoying coworkers at Deus Machina, and what makes it so great is that every workplace has that one employee that oversteps their boundaries. And it just goes to show that not even the machine world is without its shortcomings.

Keymaker

The Matrix Reloaded got loads of criticism for turning a simple but well-crafted premise into an incohesive mess. However, while the Architect might be an exception, the sequel still introduces a lot of great characters who should have returned to the franchise.

One of those characters is Keymaker, a computer program that can create shortcut commands. While that sounds boring, it’s used in the most exciting ways. Keymaker can miraculously conjure objects like motorcycles for Trinity. The character and his special ability had so much potential that could have been developed in the sequels, and it was only briefly touched on in Reloaded.

Chad

Chad is one of the least likable characters in The Matrix Resurrections, but that‘s intentional, as he comes off as a typical jerk and is controlling of Trinity. However, it’s the history behind Chad and the actor who plays him that makes it so great.

Chad is played by Chad Stahelski, who is the director of the John Wick series, and he was a stunt coordinator and Keanu Reeves’ stunt double in the original Matrix trilogy. Seeing him play his own character and getting involved in the action in the fourth movie is a unique way to honor the martial arts expert, and it adds to the meta aspect of the unusual fourquel too.

Gwyn De Vere

Gwyn de Vere (Christina Ricci) shows up for only a couple of short scenes in The Matrix Resurrections, but the character is more interesting because of the idea of her and what she might represent. Gwyn de Vere could be a play on Guinevere, who is the queen of King Arthur and her name translates to “white enchantress.”

It hints that de Vere secretly has a much bigger role in the matrix than audiences and Neo knows, and it’s something that could be explored in another sequel. On top of that, Ricci is another longtime collaborator of the Wachowskis. She first starred in the criminally underrated Speed Racer, the 2006 movie directed by the sisters, and it’s a treat to see her back on the big screen.

Bugs

While Neo and Trinity are still the stars of The Matrix Resurrections, the first character introduced in the 2021 movie is a brand new one. The way Bugs storms onto the scene at the very beginning makes it seem as if she was going to be the lead character, and if that was the case, the divisive movie might have been much better received.

The fourquel was too caught up in the narrative between Neo and Trinity, and it would have been more interesting to see Bugs’ backstory. Bugs looks the part with her shades and neon blue hair, she’s a badass in the action sequences, and she’s the best character in Resurrections.

The Analyst

When it was first announced that Neil Patrick Harris was going to play the main antagonist of The Matrix Resurrections, some fans raised their eyebrows. Harris is best known for being a sitcom actor, but a lot of those skeptics must not have ever seen Harris play a self-deprecating and vulgar version of himself in the Harold and Kumar series.

Harris played The Analyst in a sadistic manner that most audiences didn’t know he was capable of. Though The Analyst might not be remembered as an iconic villain like Agent Smith is, Harris did the best he could with a fairly underwritten character. And it’s another example of incredible costume design, as his transparent blue glasses don’t just look cool, but they’re a clever foreshadowing too.

Cypher

Of all the villains named Cypher, The Matrix’s Cypher (Joe Pantoliano) is easily the best. The character is creepy and menacing, but he actually makes a great point. A lot of viewers, if not most of them, would agree with Cypher’s logic, as he’d much rather live in the machine world than the real world, and he’ll do anything he can to get back there.

It’s surprising that Pantoliano didn’t return for the fourquel, as he has had a great working relationship with the Wachowskis. The actor worked with the filmmakers on their directorial debut, Bound, and Sense8, the TV show that was created by the Wachowskis. And even though Cypher died in the original movie, he could easily have been brought back in the meta sequel.

The Twins

As criticized as The Matrix Reloaded is, it has some of the best action sequences in the series, and it’s only bad compared to its predecessor. The highway scene gives anything in the original movie a run for its money, and that’s largely thanks to the Twins.

Along with Keymaker, the Twins showcase real potential in the sequel, as their ability to phase through physical matter adds a new dimension to fight scenes. The twins’ ghostly appearance in non-corporeal form also adds an element of horror to the franchise, which fans didn’t know they needed. Unfortunately, the henchmen were killed off way too quickly, which also killed any prospect of them returning.

Tank

Tank (Marcus Chong) is one of the unsung heroes of the Matrix series. Most of the credit goes to Neo, but Neo wouldn’t have lasted long if it wasn’t for Tank killing Cypher before he unplugged everyone from the matrix in the original movie. Just as Neo did, Tank sacrificed himself, and he’s low-key one of the most intelligent Matrix characters.

It’s actually never explained to audiences that he died from the energy bolt that Cypher shot at him, but either way, he doesn’t show up in any of the sequels. However, that could have been due to negotiations. According to The Guardian, Chong was set to appear in the sequels, but Warner Bros. broke the contract.

New Morpheus

The Matrix Resurrections might have disappointed many longtime fans, but one thing that’s certain is that the movie had an amazing costume designer behind it. Morpheus never had flair and he simply wore a black leather jacket and shades just like everyone else, but this iteration of the character clearly expresses himself through outfits.

Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen III) shot uzis and fought agents in pink and yellow suits, and it’s the coolest-looking action of any Matrix movie. Outside of the outfits, Abdul-Mateen has an approach to the character that’s completely different from Laurence Fishburne’s portrayal, and it’s essentially a different character, not just a recasting. A less serious and more self-aware version of the character works surprisingly well.