The Matrix Easter Egg You Missed In John Wick: Chapter 3

There's a glitch in "John Wick: Chapter 3"... or is it just déjà vu? The action sequel starring Keanu Reeves draws plenty of parallels with "The Matrix." After all, John Wick's incredible fighting skills look as though they've been directly uploaded to Keanu Reeves' head. Then "The Matrix Resurrections" introduced a bearded Neo that looks exactly like John Wick has been plugged into the Matrix. But it's a moment of synchronicity in the "John Wick" sequel that connects the two.

"The Matrix" is all about interconnectedness. The real-life human beings outside the Matrix are connected to their avatars within. Agent Smith is connected to just about any human being in the program when the mood takes him. And it looks as though "The Matrix" itself is connected to "John Wick" in some small way.

A blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in "John Wick: Chapter 3" serves as a cool Easter egg, as well as connecting the dots between the two Keanu Reeves action franchises. At one point, the owner of the Continental Hotel, Winston, asks John Wick what he needs.

"Guns," he replies. "Lots of guns."

And if that moment gives you déjà vu, that's because it's a neat call back to "The Matrix."

It may be a little on the nose, but "Guns. Lots of guns," is the exact line said by Neo in "The Matrix" as he and Trinity gear up for the legendary lobby scene. In both cases, he got exactly what he wanted — Neo and Trinity gunning down countless guards and security personnel with their own in-jacket armory, while John Wick... Well, you can guess how that turns out.

The quote turning up in "John Wick: Chapter 3" is a fun little meta moment which is even more poignant with the recent release of "The Matrix Resurrections." It's also a nudge and a wink to Keanu Reeves fans who have seen him go from strength to strength as an action star since his 1994 classic, "Speed."

But it happens to be a nod to director Chad Stahelski's past, too.

Long before he became a director, Stahelski worked as a Hollywood stunt coordinator. During this time, he suited up a stunt double for a famous young action star in a reality-bending sci-fi flick. That's right, Stahelski was Reeves' stunt double on "The Matrix." He even turns up as Trinity's fake-husband in "The Matrix Resurrections" adding yet-another layer to this already pretty meta reference. But it's not the only Matrix reference in the "John Wick" movies.

"John Wick 2" introduces "The Matrix" alumni Laurence Fishburne as The Bowery King, the head of an undercover intelligence network that's disguised as a homeless shelter. There's even a subtle nod to "The Matrix" when John and The Bowery King first meet.

"As I live and breathe," says The Bowery King.

It might be a bit of a stretch, but it feels like a call back to Fishburne's classic Matrix line: "You think that's air you're breathing now?" Especially since the John Wick franchise doesn't shy away from Keanu's time in "The Matrix." The Bowery King even suggests that they've met before, even though Wick doesn't remember it. Then he makes a veiled mention of their first meeting, "before [his] ascension."

Shortly after this, John follows The Bowery King to his locker room where he gets changed out of his street clothes. There are several references made to him "making a choice" and we soon see him choose between two lockers — one that's full of red items, one with blue. It's no surprise to see the former Morpheus reach for the red ones.

After all it's an obvious reference to the choice Neo is given in "The Matrix:"

"You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."

How deep does the rabbit hole go?