Hulu’s Devs Reimagines The Matrix For The 2020s

An acclaimed 9-part sci-fi thriller on Hulu comes off as the perfect modern reimagining of The Matrix. While it is not an official extension of The Matrix franchise, it shares many thematic and narrative elements that seem reminiscent of the iconic movie series. The show in question, titled Devs, was created by Alex Garland and remains relatively obscure even to this day.

Despite being lesser-known, though, Devs is often remembered as one of the most innovative and ambitious sci-fi shows that achieves more in just 9 episodes than most series do in multiple seasons. On the surface, Devs unfolds more as a murder mystery thriller where a computer engineer, Lily, investigates the disappearance of her missing boyfriend. Her search for answers soon leads her to the CEO of a computing firm.

Beyond its surface-level exploration of a murder mystery, though, Devs explores themes surrounding everything from the nature of reality to the limits of human agency in a predetermined timeline. Like the characters in The Matrix end up confronting the realization that the world is a lie, the ones in Devs are forced to question the validity of their own choices when they realize that reality is fundamentally predictable.

The Matrix raises intriguing questions surrounding free will and determinism by spinning more of a “chosen one” yarn around its philosophical underpinnings. While Devs does not directly adopt the “chosen one” trope, it suggests that every action, no matter how defiant, is somehow pre-coded into the fabric of time.

Devs eventually ends up being far colder and less revolutionary than The Matrix, given how it does not prompt audiences to fight for freedom of choice. However, it is these darker yet relatable aspects of the show’s portrayal of humanity’s insignificance against a pre-determined future that make it even more compelling.

The Matrix 5 Should Take Inspiration From Devs After 2021’s Disappointing Sequel

The Matrix Resurrections struggled to leave its mark because it seemingly mocked the existence of its own predecessors and started deconstructing elements of its own franchise’s story. For the most part of its runtime, it was packed with so much meta-commentary that it became hard not to wonder if it was somehow dunking on itself.

Even from a visual standpoint, it seemingly lacked the flair that previously defined the franchise and came off as a forced extension of the existing Matrix lore. By drawing inspiration from Devs and trying to tell a more intimate and micro-level story about the horrors of simulation and the skewed nature of determinism, The Matrix could revive audience interest in its potential sequel.

Since The Matrix movies, especially the first one, have become such a significant part of the zeitgeist, even those who have not seen the films are familiar with the groundbreaking ideas it once explored. Owing to this, the franchise cannot work if it keeps recycling the elements that previously made it successful. It needs to bring something new to the table and avoid being redundant.

By taking the same cynical stance as Devs and delving deeper into its established philosophical themes, The Matrix can completely reinvent itself. While it should still feature iconic action scenes that have become a crucial part of its core identity, it should focus more on being a “thinker’s” sci-fi film that can even riff on modern-day concerns surrounding data privacy and AI growth.

Hopefully, The Matrix‘s next movie, which currently seems to be in an ambiguous state of development, will strive to be more like Devs and less like its predecessors.