Smith was offered the role of Neo inThe Matrixbefore Keanu Reeves.
Therefore, he had already established himself as a movie star.
However,Smith was unsure about the Wachowskis' pitch forThe Matrixand decided to turn down the leading role.
Smith himself felt the need to explain why he didn’t want to star inThe Matrixin aYouTubevideo in 2019.
Therefore, when the Wachowskis pitched him their idea forThe Matrix, Smith wasn’t sold.
Additionally, Smith was shocked that the directing duo wanted to invent a new camera to filmThe Matrix.
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Therefore,he ultimately decided thatThe Matrixwasn’t right for him and passed on the role.
Therefore, Smith chose to work with a director who he knew and trusted.
However, uponWild Wild West’srelease, reviews for the film were horrible.
The Matrix, directed by the Wachowskis, stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a hacker who discovers that reality is a simulated construct controlled by intelligent machines. Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss co-star as Morpheus and Trinity, who help Neo navigate and ultimately challenge the artificial world. The film blends action, philosophy, and groundbreaking visual effects, establishing itself as a pivotal entry in the science fiction genre.
Currently,Wild Wild Westhas a score of 16% on Rotten Tomatoes (viaRotten Tomatoes).
Meanwhile,the bold style ofThe Matrixled the film to be a critical and commercial success.
The dynamic between Neo and Morpheus is one of the highlights ofThe Matrix.
However, things would have been completely different if Smith had accepted the role of Neo inThe Matrix.
If Smith was Neo, it is unlikely that Fishburne would not have been cast as Morpheus.
Even Smith admitted that it’s possible he would have ruinedThe Matrixif he had been Neo.
A lot of Smith’s characters are very witty and playful.
In contrast, Keanu Reeves' portrayal of Neo was incredibly serious.
Smith was also offered the role of Carter inRush Hour, which was released a year beforeThe Matrix.
However, he turned that down because he thought the buddy cop movie was too similar toBad Boys.
Smith also turned down a role as the most iconic comic book character of all time inSuperman Returns.
The above examples make it clear thatSmith has turned down several major roles in his career.
However, nothing will ever top him passing on the role of Neo inThe Matrix.
