What happened to Tank?
May 21st, 2003 at 11:32 am (Movie News)
I left the theater after watching The Matrix Reloaded (2003) with a bunch of questions. One was wondering what happened to Tank. Tank’s sister mentions that she ‘lost two brothers to that ship’ but the character was still alive by the end of the first movie and gone in the sequel. I just found the answer in a Reuters article about actor Marcus Chong’s lawsuit against the film makers for reneging on their promise to include him in the sequels. Here is an excerpt:
Chong, 35, also accused the filmmakers of “intentionally publishing numerous false statements … that he was a terrorist,” and of conspiring to blackball him in Hollywood.
A bail receipt document posted on a fan Web site shows that Chong was arrested on Oct. 18, 2000 for allegedly making threats — five days after his salary negotiations with the studio collapsed.
Film industry sources said the actor made repeated phone calls of a harassing nature to the filmmakers after his salary demands were not met. Tank was subsequently written out of the sequels and replaced with a character named Link.
Andy said,
May 26, 2003 at 6:52 pm
Nothing to really comment on. I never noticed his dissapearence until mentioned now. Thats ok though, Link is stil cool
koads said,
May 27, 2003 at 9:09 am
Still, it only tells us that he was written out, but i would like to know how he died. all we know is what zee says about losing two brothers to that ship…
NJedi said,
May 27, 2003 at 4:36 pm
This is never specified, but i would assume that since he was severly injured from Cypher’s attack, that he later died of an infection or Virus due to the open wound.
|beerbong| said,
May 28, 2003 at 1:21 pm
a nice topic for another animatrix episode??;-) who knows? would be cool!
Real_Actors said,
May 28, 2003 at 2:07 pm
You people wouldn’t know a good actor if he sat on you! I noticed the instant I saw that loser of a replacement ‘Link’, that something was not right. The Ski bros. are idiots if they think pulling him did not hurt the effectiveness of their story telling. Tank Lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dork_with_a_fork said,
May 28, 2003 at 2:42 pm
Well… i don’t know what was supposed to have happened to the character, all i know is that Chong had a MASSIVE fall-out with the wachowski’s and got kicked out. i think he was originally intended to be in the sequels. but i may be wrong, that’s just what i’ve heard!
ghost_Hack said,
June 3, 2003 at 9:00 pm
Honestly who cares what the hell happened to Tank.
What really happened was that since the first Matrix made tons of money the actor playing Tank decided he was a key character in the Matrix mythology and wanted more money but as he found out he wasn’t so they wrote him out
Glad it happened 2, he should’ve just been happy with taking part of what will probably be one of the most influential trilogies of our time. That’s what he gets for being greedy.
on another note, the Link character is cool.
Ghost_Hack
Leopoldo said,
June 6, 2003 at 8:40 am
It took me a while to get around to writing a review of The Matrix Reloaded, but it is now ready and posted at
http://www.geekroar.com/film/archives/000271.php
Here is the synopsis: It was fun and I will wait until November to find out what is ‘really going on’.
blenna hassett said,
June 12, 2003 at 12:33 pm
I saw Matrix 2 without ever seeing the first Matrix but the moment Link appeared on screen I was annoyed for too many reasons to mention here. I just watched Matrix 1 on DVD twice; it is a better movie overall and Tank is excellent (quality actor and a perfect fit). Now I dislike Link even more. I hope the third movie is better and is missing Link, even if we never see Tank again.
Theodore Diggers said,
June 14, 2003 at 8:30 pm
Link was not that bad at all. Tank had this creepy, condescending tone to him. And if that is really waht happened, he got greedy, than I hope he burns in the Christian hell. Come on, who can beat Link’s line “Where’s my puss…..”
Frampton said,
June 16, 2003 at 11:30 am
Despite whatever problems there were offscreen for me there’s no doubt that Tank was a more convincing character then Link. I couldn’t stand Link’s looning around although he did have that one good joke.
There was no point to the story strand concerning Link - I understand that his partner was to be a celeb cameo by Aaliyah but they obviously had to reshot, now it’s the barely known Nona Gaye. I guess that Link is intended to be the audiance’s presence in the film, ‘ooo’ing and ‘aaahh’ing as the audiance react to onscreen events. This didn’t work properly for me either, like Jar Jar he’s just too annoying for me to sympathise with. I hope to see him die in Revolutions
Slick said,
June 16, 2003 at 4:01 pm
I saw an interview where one of the writers said that Tank died when he went insane after the loss of his brother. He then began to believe he was Neo, and stuck a Matrix interface through the back of his skull. This is apparently already on the cutting floor of the Animatrix stuff.
Mr-random said,
June 18, 2003 at 12:16 am
What they meant was Tank died when he went insane after the loss of his role. He then began to believe he was the script writer, and stuck a roll of money through the back of his skull
sandhya said,
June 23, 2003 at 7:50 am
Seems to me that the disappearence of Tank and appearance of Link has been left uncharacteristically loose. This is not one of your figure out the matrix link. Even if they had no choice but to replace him, they might have tied it up more neatly.
But Link has been made more permanent. Tank may have been more real, but he also had a dispensable quality to him. One of the many who can struck down by sentinels, agents or traitors. Link has got more emotional baggage now what with a wife waiting for him and all that.
But if that is not also one of the most cliched set ups to have Link bopped off, i’d be surprised.
LAX said,
June 28, 2003 at 6:37 pm
I personally ilked both of them. Link was funny and Tank was cool. I think it is very beleivable that Tank died. Even if he didn’t die right away. His wound was huge! It was covering a good portion of his torso and was really deep. Just because he didn’t die immediatly like Dozer doesn’t mean that he didn’t die. Though i was also a bit shocked when Tank wasn’t in the sequal, it was understandable and I like how Links story was added to the movie. It adds more support behind the plot. Thats my 2 cents.
Emit Flesti said,
July 17, 2003 at 5:34 pm
Tank is definitely missing in the second part. And what is also missing is a good story for “reloaded”. Hey! I watched part 1 of matrix about 10 times or so - but i wouldn’t waste a single thought about buying the reloaded dvd or even seeing the stuff for a second time in the cinema. oh my
god! (money)
characters tank, dozer, switch, cypher, morpheus and the
bunch made matrix I such a success - but it’s always the
same with sequels - some suckers with loads of money
decide that “we’ll just have to get rid of this guy - he must
die”, “britney spears will be morpheus wife”, “there must
be a president who is saved from the bad guys”, “we need
more of this trekky yessirnosir-crap”, “neo needs a worthy opponent - bring on the albino rasta gangstas and some guy with a french-axis-of-weasel-touch who’s their boss” … so there you are - you waited all this long time for the sequel and now that! neo’s transformed into “americankickboxrobot IV” and the magic of part 1 died.
Brian said,
July 20, 2003 at 6:39 am
I thought that tanks sister pleading for link not to go was very effective. tanks departure worked (luckily)
Neo said,
July 25, 2003 at 1:17 pm
This is Loco!
Andy said,
August 24, 2003 at 10:47 pm
Boo hoo,
Have a cry, if the producers could not put Tank in the sequel so what! he was only a supporting role, he did not make the movie.
If Link had have been in the first Matrix and then was replaced by Tank you would all be cry anyway. The real stars are the script, the star actors and the special effects…
bpp said,
August 25, 2003 at 1:13 pm
For all of you who liked Tank so much, I hear actor Marcus Chong is working on a sequal. Its not a sequal in the matrix series though. He’s doing Black Panther 2, again playing Hewy P. Newton. The story picks up right where Black Panther left off- The idealistic young revolutionary Hewey Newton, gets bored with the idea of fighting for Black liberation- so as the real Hewey Newton did, he gets strung out on heroin, a few years later on crack, and somewhere in the mix he becomes a pimp. Watch for this sequal, and rent the original Black Panther if you get a chance.
someguy said,
October 18, 2003 at 7:05 pm
It just seems to me that there wasn’t enough of a storyline in Matrix Reloaded. I thought the fight scenes were great and that the chase scene was one of, if not the best I’ve ever seen. However, they took away from the plot too much. All I got out of it at the end was that the machines were digging, the Matrix was in it’s 6th iteration, and Neo chose love and hope over reason so now they must find a way to save Zion and the people within the Matrix. I just wish that the sequel had contained more story than fight scenes and philosophy.
lionel said,
October 25, 2003 at 11:22 pm
First I would like to say that I agree with everything poster Emit Flesti said. You hit the nail on the head.
I guess the Brothers got head swelled by the success of the first movie and got on their high horse thinking they could make it just on the hype.
And all of you wachowski’lovers bitching anyone who dare to critizise the many FLAWS of M2. Well, get this: They can’t just screw up things and expect the viewers not to notice. And about Marcus chong? Was one of my favorites. I don’t worry for him, I think he’s very talented and on the verge to make it big.
What the f**ck do you all know about good acting anyway!
LukeDawg22 said,
October 26, 2003 at 11:40 am
Tank was great in matrix 1. He was so much better than link. He was an important part but he was greedy. For his actions he deserved to be written out but god-d@mnit reloaded would have been so much better if he was in it.
Liane said,
October 26, 2003 at 11:11 pm
Greeddy? What the fuck? He only ask for half/million. That’s not much for christ’s sake!
I would have offer him 1 million or even $2M.
You’re damn right he left a regrettable hole in the sequels.
Talk about him being greedy, well I’m sure all of you would’ve love to see Jet Lee in the sequels. But seems like the dude ask for $13 000 000. Yeah that’s right. Unfortunately the W’s wanted to give him $3M. I guess they rejected himm too, or Lee reject their offer. But they can’t piss off a well-known Actor can they?
Talking about taking advantage of others! It’s
all about the Sh**ty crap to go through when starting a career. Maybe Mr. Chong’s gonna have the last laugh after all cause he made himself a load of new fans, he he.
Greg said,
October 28, 2003 at 5:20 pm
I noticed Tank was missing right away, but I tried not to let it bother me because I figured they’d explain it in the movie later, but they didn’t explain it to the extent I was hoping. But seriously, does it matter that much. Is it that hard to say “Operator..” and “It’s gonna be hard to find an exit.”
But about the Matrix Reloaded’s story line. If you took a philosophy class you would realize there is plenty of story line hidden in there, and the best part is you get to think about it on your own instead of it being fed to you. If you like story lines fed to you, watch a romantic comdedy. They are great. I promise!
reality said,
October 28, 2003 at 11:33 pm
First it is already to assume on just one post that because one disliked Reloaded that one don’t know anything about philosophy. Then, that’s the problem with this sequel. All the philosophical symbolism got overkilled by too much *blowyourmind techno-action hype crap*
Unlike m1 that had all its philosophical, spiritual symbolism on track, and that what was thought-provoking. Having said that spectres of my philosophy classes: Socrate, Plato, kant and even the bible are telling me that we got screwed. Maybe Revolutions will be even more desapointing, who knows?
And who cares about Tank? Well intelligent people who can analysed what is being fed to them do care. BTW, what the hell! this is about the unfortunate case of an upcomming actor and not about reviews on Matrix reloaded damnit.
Do not try to divert the issue if you can’t argue on it.
Greg said,
October 30, 2003 at 1:43 am
You are right, I apologize, I shouldn’t have responded in that fashion. I got carried away when my first intentions were to merely suggest taking a philosophy class if he hadn’t already and if he was interested in knowing the foundations of the storyline. I do not personally think I am smart, nor do I think anyone is stupid. But I just want to say this, my personal opinion as to why people overall disliked M2 was because it obviously lacked resolution. Which is why the 3rd one is coming out so quickly. It’s a basic human need to have resolution, so I don’t think anyone is stupid for liking/disliking M2. In M2, it’s like playing a music scale and stopping before the last note, you can “hear” the final note in your head, but you want it to actually be played so you can move on with your life. (Okay a little drastic)
But to my defense, there was more than one post that indicated they disliked M2 for storyline reasons and the like. But like you said, this is about Mr. Chong and I love to divert. Soo…Yes, it is very unfortunate. But what can we do? I’m sure he’ll get work in other movies if he is as good as everyone says he is. Obviously I cared enough about him losing the role to do an internet search on him. But now that I know what happened I’m not so disappointed.
I agree with what someone earlier said about his massive wound in M1. It seems quite plausible that he would have eventually died from that due to reasons the Wachowski brothers didn’t feel like explaining. So I’m not so concerned.
Liane said,
October 30, 2003 at 2:59 pm
O.k. Alright, It’s not that I care so much, (or have time for that) to post here, but I knew I had to come and respond to some reply.
I think some webie’s post was like a defense for mine; whoever it was I 100% agree with him/her. To the latest post, well There’s no need to apologize, but anyway it should be greately accepted. The thing is, I think we’re all getting carried away with this trilogy. The W’s got us obsessing
about freeing our mind with this audacious first film. Many of us were expecting a real dual between the enlightened freeborns and the A.I. It’s just seems that the sequels have let that down. I mean, the fans seems to have taking the movies more seriously, maybe a little too much.
Yet the matter or fact is: the W’s cant really tell us what to think they can’t really propose a finality to this powerful subject and that’s why the sequels seems vague. And although very intelligent, let’s not forget that they’re human that can make mistakes as well.
For Mr Chong, people have the right not to care, but don’t have to bitch an actor they themeself
saying not to know anything about just because he’s facing the ‘Big Wachowskis’. It’s just that
so many fans have felt in love with his character. Guys love his though demeanour..and the ladies..well you know for the same reasons they drool over Keanu.
Well, that’s it for me. Have a nice day.
Synman said,
November 9, 2003 at 5:48 am
Well, I watched M3 and was expecting some “Tank” closure but it didn’t happen.
I think the reason why so many of us are drawn to the character is because he’s the one holding the key for Morpheus and crew to come home. He’s there keeping the home fires burning, etc, etc… You can’t kill off Mom….
Anyway, I like Link… not so much because of the character, but because of the actor himself. Followed the guy on Oz for a number of years and it was nice to see him pickup a gig like the Matrix.
andrew said,
November 16, 2003 at 4:45 am
i think you are all missing the whole point. and its that the only good movie to come out of all of this was the first matrix. the other two suck. they turned into true hollywood and gave it the huge religious feel. crap. pure crap. they should have left it with neo flying off in the first one and everyone would be happy. maybe its because of tank. i dont know but i doubt it.
The Pied Cow said,
November 17, 2003 at 3:07 pm
Tank tanked…
d2r: off to see… Oh Diego, if you didn’t get your answer to whatever happened to Tank here’s a brief mention of it. I think theres even a website about it oh ya here it is….
jet li said,
November 24, 2003 at 10:49 pm
ok whoever said tank was greedy, i doubt that..its just like the jet li rumor, but jet li cancelled because aaliyah died, he felt it would be disrespectful to appear in a role with his friend now dead, i know for a fact he wouldn’t turn down the matrix after having been in some crappy movies made for usa..
phredbull said,
December 2, 2003 at 6:13 pm
Jei Li was friends with Aaliya?
Ronald said,
December 24, 2003 at 7:40 am
I thought it was funny that Tank wasn’t in the sequel. I heard because he was trying to be greedy that he was booted out the sequels. The lesson boys & girls: Don’t be greedy! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!
chad said,
January 15, 2004 at 3:35 pm
Yes..boys & girls, have your heads as far up people’s asses(specially the ‘wacho’bros)
Maybe the matrix movies have become too childish,
such that you have a bunch of ignorent little kids hooked on videogames and all the cool stuff they run buying so blindly. They’re all infecting
the msg boards now’days..it’s so ANNOYING!
Melodie said,
February 25, 2004 at 7:56 am
I noticed right away that Tank (Marcus Chong) wasn’t there because he was one of the reasons I liked the Matrix so much. I wish him luck in his career choices.I remember seeing him first in Panther as Hewey Newton.
Anthony said,
April 4, 2004 at 4:01 am
I think Link was supposed to be Tank, but under the circumstances they had to replace the character. I think this because she says she lost “two brothers to that ship”. Obviously tank and Douser. But in other scenes she only says Douser. Oh i dont kno…ARGHH
Doesnt matter. He died. Link replaced him;)
Cyberlink said,
April 21, 2004 at 6:10 am
im pissed off that tank was pulled out he was cool they shuld of at leaqst made somthing up though i do enjoy link hes ok but still who gives a sh!t
fun matrix said,
June 8, 2004 at 6:08 pm
Hi I read an interesting book on matrix movies
check www.matrixjourney.com
Miss Nic said,
June 11, 2004 at 6:12 pm
Hey! I greatly resemble your comments about Huey Newton, “bpp!” (Heh heh.)
Henry said,
November 30, 2004 at 2:37 am
Tanks absence was certainly felt in the movie as I kept wondering what happened to him. Overall though I think ‘Reloaded’ still came out ok.
Dan said,
January 6, 2005 at 4:59 pm
If i were tank, I would be happy I was not involved with the other 2 movies. Reloaded was OK, but revolutions made me wish the matrix never had a sequel made, it was awful, and I think the guy that plays tank should be grateful he doesn’t have to be associated with the “trilogy”. Reloaded was cool, but as far as I’m concerned, there is no trilogy, just “The Matrix”, 1 movie.
Cybria said,
June 2, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Amen. The last 2 are dispensable. In light of that I AM glad that Marcus wasn’t around for them.