Things are clearly fluid on The Matrix front right now, which accounts for Penn being hesitant to elaborate too much on exactly what said current plan is for this franchise.
The X-Men franchise is arguably going strong than ever now, what with Tim Miller’s raunchy action/comedy Deadpool, James Mangold’s grisly drama Logan and Noah Hawley’s trippy TV show Legion having all earned much in the way of critical acclaim.
This also gels with reports that WB is considering assembling a Matrix writers group, in order to figure out the best approach to expanding the franchise from here.
Perhaps just as importantly, each of these projects have put a refreshingly different twist on the general X-Men property too, so Penn drawing comparisons to that franchise and what is being planned for The Matrix, is encouraging in that respect.