Danny Boyle dismisses conspiracy theorist ‘rabbit holes’ in adaption of The Matrix
Danny Boyle said he dismissed the “rabbit holes” conspiracy theorists like Andrew Tate have fallen down when adapting the 1999 film The Matrix for the stage.
The 67-year-old director said his latest project, titled Free Your Mind, focused on the “adventurous” issues the film raised – including climate change and artificial intelligence.
“It was as courageous as a mainstream Hollywood film could ever be on many different points – the gender issue, the digital issues, the AI issue – and that word really didn’t have the currency it has now,” he said.
Joe Pantoliano, Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss in 1999 film The Matrix
“It had a multicultural cast, which was almost unheard of in mainstream Hollywood films, and [the film addressed] climate change.
“All these issues are in this film with a huge and sometimes baffling philosophical network behind it that you’re challenged to find out [about].”
“It’s that that inspired us to see how we could reflect on that, given how everything has moved on since then. And we remain in its searchlight,” he added.
“We concentrated on that rather than actually some of the distortions that [the film] has been used for, some of those rabbit holes that people have gone down.”
The film’s terminology has been adopted by controversial figures such as Elon Musk and Tate with the term “the matrix” often used to describe a malicious layer of society including media, politicians and corporations who allegedly want to silence people.
But choreographer Kenrick Sandy said these types of influencers can engage in “misinformation”.
The show’s creative team (left to right) Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Es Devlin, Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante and Danny Boyle inside Aviva Studios
“In coming into the show, it was more about the light and the awareness as opposed to the conspiracy because sometimes you go down that hole, you’re not coming back,” Sandy said.
“For me, it wasn’t that. It was not about the conspiracy, it’s about an awareness, it’s about enlightenment. We don’t want to feel like we are trying to [say], ‘you must think like this’ – that’s not the way, especially in the world today.
A scene from the show. Pic: Tristram Kenton/Factory International
“There’s too many people trying to say ‘this is the way it is’. Sometimes it’s misinformation, it’s an opinion, it’s not a fact.”
Boyle created the live dance adaption with Sandy, composer Michael Asante, set designer Es Devlin and writer Sabrina Mahfouz. It opened in Manchester‘s Aviva Studios last week – marking the official launch of the £240m project.
An artist’s impression of Aviva Studios, the new cultural venue which opened this month
The director was born and raised in nearby Radcliffe, around seven miles north of Manchester, and said he hopes the new venue will “nurture younger, challenging artists who will come forth and use the profile of the building to present their ideas”.
Choreographer Sandy first worked with Boyle in the 2012 Olympics, when Boyle directed the opening ceremony.
But this is the first project both have worked on from the beginning, with Boyle saying that working within the art form of dance was “extraordinary”.
“You don’t expect this late in life to get a complete education in language values – dance obviously brings a completely different perspective to something.
“There’s so much about The Matrix, not just the manifestations of it in film, there’s The Animatrix and the conspiracy theories and all that kind of stuff, so to bring the language of dance to it feels like a wonderfully refreshing way of renewing our interest in some of its brilliant, dazzling ideas,” Boyle said.
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The film, directed by the Wachowski sisters, sees hacker Thomas Anderson, played by Keanu Reeves, being told that AI has conquered humanity and our lives are part of a computer simulation.
He switches identities to become hero Neo – something co-director Lilly Wachowski said was a metaphor for the experience of the transgender community.
Boyle is best known for directing films including Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Days Later.
Snoop Dogg says he hopes to set up a burger van at Celtic’s stadium and wants to serve fans himself.
The US rapper, 53, has described the football club’s supporters as “special” and the best fans in European football.
And Snoop, who played Glasgow‘s OVO Hydro arena in 2023, has also said he strongly identifies with the club’s mascot Hoopy the Hound.
He said a fast-food van at Celtic Park would become a foodie “Paradise” which is a nickname for the ground in the Parkhead area of the city.
Celtic Park. Pic: AP
Snoop told the Sunday Mail: “I would love to bring a pop-up burger [van] to a sports stadium to show fans that food at stadiums can be good.
“It’s got to be Celtic Park, man. The secret to a good burger is the love in the preparation. The ground beef has got to be mixed with some secret spices, then add a good quality cheese and some maple-cured bacon.
“The Celtic fans are gonna love it, and to make sure they are just right, Snoop is going to be serving them himself.”
But he said he would not be taking his culinary ventures to Rangers – Celtic’s Old Firm rivals at Ibrox.
The Drop It Like It’s Hot star told the paper: “Am I going to bring my burgers to Rangers as well? Nah, I think we will give that a miss.”
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The musician has previously spoken of investing in Celtic, similar to Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds’s involvement with Wrexham FC.
Snoop has already published a cookbook and claims to have spoken to chef Gordon Ramsay about a possible venture in Glasgow together.
The keen sports fan worked as a correspondent for NBC at the Paris Olympics last year, and has launched two youth football leagues, as well as being a vocal advocate for pay equality for female athletes.
Entertainment
Sir Rod Stewart ‘devastated’ after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu
Sir Rod Stewart says he is devastated to have to cancel a series of US concerts, blaming lingering flu for the decision.
It affects four shows in Nevada, along with a further two in California, which he plans to reschedule.
They were due to take place over the next eight days.
“So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon,” he wrote in a message on Instagram.
Sir Rod, 80, has been struggling to recover from flu and this week had already cancelled two concerts at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
On Wednesday, he disclosed that his doctor had “ordered” him to take “a bit more rest”.
The star is in the midst of his epic One Last Time Tour.
Sir Rod, who was recently put on vocal rest, is due to play the legends slot at Glastonbury later this month.
In May, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards (AMAs).
Sir Rod performing at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. Pic: Reuters
In a sign of how seriously the singer takes his health, last month he was also spotted in Italy attempting to avoid conversations to preserve his voice.
He wore a message attached to a lanyard which read: “Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest.”
In 2024, he promised he would not retire but confirmed his 2025 European and North American shows would bring an end to his “large-scale world tours”.
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The performer, best known for songs including Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Every Beat Of My Heart, and Maggie May, said he plans to focus on more intimate venues instead.
Sir Rod has faced other health challenges in the past.
In May 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery. In 2017, he underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer.
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