Matrix sequel set to conquer the box office

THE action hero is alive and well judging by the reception Keanu Reeves received at the premiere of his latest film.

Hollywood’s heart-throb wowed the crowds at the screening of this year’s most eagerly anticipated film.

Co-stars Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss also attended the glitzy opening of The Matrix Reloaded in Los Angeles.

The trio are again cast as freedom fighters who upload themselves into a virtual world to battle Earth’s machine conquerors.

Movie analysts predict the sequel could outdo the first instalment of the Matrix which took more than £130 million at the box office.

The 1999 film’s stop-motion visual effects, time-altering action and slick black fashion sense have already been endlessly imitated in films, TV shows and adverts.

Brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski simultaneously shot The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, which will be released later this year.

The Matrix Reloaded has its full worldwide premiere on May 21.

Movie distributors are using a global release date to prevent piracy.

A similar plan ensured the science fiction film X-Men 2 grossed $155m in just the first weekend of its release.

In Ireland alone the film grossed more than €1.09m since its opening last Friday night.