Tank, the loyal operator from the first Matrix film, does not appear in The Matrix Reloaded due to a dispute over the actor's salary and subsequent alleged behavior during negotiations.
The actor who portrayed Tank, Marcus Chong, was originally set to reprise his role for the sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. However, a significant disagreement arose during the negotiation process that led to his character being written out of the films:
- Salary Dispute: Chong was reportedly offered $400,000 for his participation in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. He, however, was seeking a significantly higher sum, specifically $1 million, for his involvement in the sequels.
- Alleged Conduct: Following the breakdown in salary talks, it was alleged that Chong made repeated threatening phone calls to Warner Bros and the Wachowskis, the creators of the film series.
As a direct result of these issues, the character of Tank was written out of the series. In the narrative of The Matrix Reloaded, Tank's absence is briefly explained by stating that he did not survive the injuries he sustained in the first film. His sister, Link, subsequently took over the role of Zion's ship operator for the remainder of the trilogy.
