The actor also turned down the role of Django in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained.

Will Smith, Keanu Reeves, Val Kilmer

Would The Matrix starring Will Smith as Neo and Val Kilmer as Morpheus still be as legendary? Fans will never get to live in this reality as the Wachowskis’ modern-day classic changed the sci-fi and action genres with Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne in those roles. The film was one of the highest-grossing films of the year and redefined the sci-fi genre.

Will Smith has turned down many roles in his career but the Bad Boys star reportedly regrets turning down Neo the most. He mentioned that he could not see the vision of the filmmakers as he had received an awful pitch from the Wachowskis. He mentioned that their terrible pitch for The Matrix involved a very crude explanation for the iconic ‘bullet time’ sequence.

Will Smith Regrets Rejected Neo Despite A Terrible Pitch

Will Smith as Agent J in Men in BlackWill Smith in Men in Black | Credits: Columbia Pictures/Amblin Entertainment/Parkes/MacDonald Productions

Will Smith is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and has played a wide variety of roles. The actor has worked on comedies such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Hitch, as well as more dramatic films like King Richard and Ali. However, his forte has been the action genre, where films such as Bad Boys and Independence Day made him a star.

While the actor has done diverse roles, he has also rejected some high-profile films due to various reasons. The actor had turned down Django Unchained by Quentin Tarantino, Brian De Palma’s Snake Eyes, and the sci-fi film K-Pax, which eventually starred Kevin Spacey. However, it was not the only sci-film that Will Smith turned down.

Keanu Reeves as Neo in the Wachowskis' The MatrixKeanu Reeves in The Matrix | Credits: Warner Bros./Village Roadshow Pictures/Groucho II Film Partnership/Silver Pictures

The Bad Boys star mentioned on the Full Send Podcast that he was regretful for rejecting The Matrix as he was first approached by the Wachowskis to star as Neo. The filmmakers reportedly mentioned that he would be starring alongside Val Kilmer in the role of Morpheus. However, Smith mentioned that he was turned off by the terrible pitch he received.

I had Neo. So, it was gonna be me and Val Kilmer as Morpheus…I’m gonna give you the exact pitch they gave me. ‘Yo bro! We’re gonna design these cameras, right? So, the cameras, it’s not one camera, it’s 30 cameras bro. They’ll all be in one line and what’ll happen is all the cameras will go at one time. So, you’ll be able to jump, but then you’ll stop jumping.’…I swear that’s the pitch I got.

Smith mentioned that he passed on the project due to the terrible pitch but when he watched what turned out to be the ‘bullet time’ sequence on the screen, he was floored. He also appreciated what Keanu Reeves, who played Neo, brought to the table with his performance.

Will Smith Almost Turned Down The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith and Jaden Smith share a sweet moment in The Pursuit of HappynessA still from The Pursuit of Happyness | Credits: Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media/Overbrook Entertainment/Escape Artists

While the world is probably better off without Will Smith’s version of The Matrix as Keanu Reeves nailed the role, one film of the actor would not be the same without him. Will Smith’s The Pursuit of Happyness remains a classic in the dramatic genre and is one of Smith’s best performances of his career. The film was also the acting debut of his son Jaden Smith.

While the film brought much glory to Smith and garnered him Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Actor, he reportedly almost turned it down. He mentioned in the Full Send Podcast that though he loved the story, he did not see it being a box office hit.

I did not want to make The Pursuit of Happyness…So, I looked at it and it was a really great story. But I was like, ‘Who wants to go to the movies to see a dude get a job in the ‘80s?’…The movie is about a guy who gets a job…compared to like Men in Black and I Am Legend…I read it and I loved it but I didn’t think it had box office viability. It ended up making $300 million.

The actor has also turned down other roles such as Rush Hour, Boyz N The Hood, Superman Returns, and more. The actor reportedly also initially turned down Men in Black but was later convinced by producer Steven Spielberg.

The Matrix is streaming on Netflix.