The prospect of a re-boot of such a classic franchise as 'The Matrix' should be an exciting one, but history has made us sceptical. Warner Bros. are taking on this new project as fans pray that it doesn't turn out as poorly as some of the other 90s sci-fi reimaginings of the 2000s and 2010s. 

The MatrixJust how likely is 'The Matrix' to fail?

Zak Penn ('Behind Enemy Lines', 'X-Men: The Last Stand', 'Alphas') is apparently in negotiations for writing the script while 'Creed' actor Michael B. Jordan has been toted to star. According to The Hollywood Reporter, original creators the Wachowski Sisters aren't thought to be involved in the remake.

The potential for a re-boot of 'The Matrix' is bound to make people wince a little. It's one of those classics that deserves to be immortalised as the film that it was rather than have endless movies built around it. When you consider how some of the latest sequels and re-boots of 90s sci-fi hits - like 'Total Recall', 'Independence Day: Resurgence', 'Terminator Salvation' and 'Terminator Genisys' - have turned out, it's bound to make you a little nervous. Especially when it's not just 90s sci-fi movies either; 2015's 'Point Break' receieved a laughable 9% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Terminator Genisys'Terminator Genisys' shows how sequels/reboots can go wrong

On the other hand, there is potential. Both 2003 sequels - 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions' - didn't suffer the familiar sequel crash that seems to happen so often these days, but we think that directs the franchise into a much more obvious direction; a television series, perhaps. It's true that series reboots of popular films tend to do fairly well; '12 Monkeys', as a recent example, and even the series 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' fared a lot better than the latest films. We'd watch a 'Matrix' TV show over a new movie any day.

More: Read our review of 'Terminator Genisys'

Still, it's impossible to judge at this point how well it's going to do when other 90s classics like 'Jurassic Park' have by contrast spawned electrifying sequels and/or remakes. The upcoming live action version of 'Ghost in the Shell' starring Scarlett Johansson is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, and has to follow the critically acclaimed 1995 animation by Mamoru Oshii.

The original 'Matrix' movie was released in 1999 and starred Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne.

Ghost in the Shell'Ghost in the Shell' is one of the most anticipated films of the year