Anon10/18/25, 21:42No.215328155
>The steaks featured in the iconic steakhouse scene from The Matrix were not made from real beef. Actor Joe Pantoliano, who played Cypher, does not eat beef and was uncomfortable with the idea of consuming it, so the production crew created prop steaks using shiitake mushrooms because they closely resembled real steak in appearance.
These mushroom-based props were used in wide shots, while real steaks were used for close-ups to maintain visual authenticity.
Despite the deception, Pantoliano did not realize the scene's significance during filming and initially thought it was just a minor sequence.
The crew members, unaware of the props' true nature, consumed the leftover mushroom steaks during lunch, adding a layer of irony to the scene where Cypher says, "I know this steak does not exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss".
This moment underscores the film's central theme of preferring a comfortable illusion over harsh reality.Nothing is real :(