Aaliyah, the singer who made her feature acting debut in Warner Bros.’ “Romeo Must Die,” has been added to the cast of the subsequent installments of “The Matrix” franchise for Warners/Village Roadshow Pictures and producer Joel Silver. The first of the sequels is slated to start production in March in Australia with filmmakers Larry and Andy Wachowski at the helm. The third installment is scheduled to be shot immediately following the second. The story lines for both “Matrix” sequels are being kept under tight wraps, but it is known that Aaliyah will play a character named Zee and will likely be more prominent in the third installment. Original cast members Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are back on board for the sequels, and Jada Pinkett Smith has been added to the cast as Niobi, the love interest for Fishburne’s character.
C.H.U.D. landed the Aaliyah casting news waaaay back on December 7th, along with the Harold Perrineau, Jr. (that’s also all but confirmed) and Harry Lennix (Titus) also landing roles in the sequels. So far CHUDs been two for three, and we’d bet heavily that Lennix is also in there too, just not officially announced as of yet. [Originally appeared on C.H.U.D.]