And just to drive home the fact that very few actors seemed to any faith in The Matrix, Will Smith also turned down the starring role. In 2019, Smith confirmed a long-standing rumour that he rejected the Neo part in favour of a far less adored movie.

Who turned down roles in The Matrix?

Will Smith could have played Keanu Reeves' role of Neo in "The Matrix," but he turned it down. The actor explained he was baffled by director Lana and Lilly Wachowski's pitch, which failed to convey how groundbreaking the movie would be.

Who was the first choice for Matrix?

We all know that The Matrix franchise owes a large part of its success to Keanu Reeves.

Who was originally offered the role of Neo in the Matrix?

The very first name pitched for the role of Neo was Nicolas Cage. But Cage being the family man that he is, quickly turned down the role in the Matrix franchise because he wasn't ready to stay away from his family for an extended production schedule.

Why did Brad Pitt turn down The Matrix?

“Because I really believe it was never mine.” Pitt went on to reveal that he was offered the role of Neo in the 1999 science-fiction thriller The Matrix, which eventually went to Keanu Reeves. “I did pass on The Matrix,” Pitt continued.

Why I Turned Down The Matrix | STORYTIME

Did Will Smith reject Matrix?

In fact, Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix to star in the critically panned western adaptation. His decision leaves many spectators wondering why he chose not to take on a role that's now considered iconic in both the sci-fi and action genres.

Why did Sean Connery turned down The Matrix?

However, the Wachowskis were determined to have Connery in their lineup: for the sequel The Matrix Revolutions, they offered Connery the role of The Architect, which he also turned down. His reasoning was apparently due to not understanding the plot, similarly to Lord of the Rings.

Who was the original choice for Morpheus?

Hong Kong star Chow Yun-Fat turned down the role of Morpheus. Other actors considered for Morpheus included Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman. Considering how perfectly Laurence Fishburne fit the part, everything worked out for the best.

Is Leonardo DiCaprio in the Matrix?

It was someone else's,” he explained. After Pitt turned down the role, Leonardo DiCaprio accepted the role before stepping away because he felt hesitant to star in a visual-effects-laden blockbuster straight after Titanic.

Was Johnny Depp in The Matrix?

Keanu Reeves was the filmmakers' second choice, as the role was initially also offered to stars like Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nic Cage, Val Kilmer, and Brad Pitt, and the majority turned it down because they didn't understand the script. But it wasn't the reason for Depp.

Who is the real chosen one in The Matrix?

Neo was the “chosen one” both figuratively and in-universe, but the way the Matrix movies deal with the idea of a predestinated hero is quite different from other popular stories like Star Wars. In The Matrix, being The One meant that Neo could perceive the Matrix simulation in a way that no other human could.

Who was the first choice actor for The Matrix?

In 1996, the Wachowskis pitched the role of Neo to Will Smith. Smith explained on his YouTube channel that the idea was for him to be Neo, while Morpheus was to be played by Val Kilmer. He later explained that he did not quite understand the concept and he turned down the role to instead film Wild Wild West.

Who turned down the Pretty Woman role?

Molly Ringwald Says She Turned Down Julia Roberts' Role in 'Pretty Woman': “I Didn't Really Like the Story” - IMDb. Molly Ringwald is getting candid about finding her way in Hollywood when she was younger, and why she turned down an iconic role in Pretty Woman.

What actor turned down the most money?

Who turned down the Indiana Jones role?

Harrison Ford took the lead role in the franchise as the archeologist, but it could've been Tom Selleck. Karen Allen, who played Marion Ravenwood opposite Ford as Indiana Jones, revealed the Friends alum's TV career forced him to turn down the gig. "Tom Selleck had been cast, and then it turned out Magnum P.I.

Was Brad Pitt in The Matrix?

Brad Pitt turned down the role of Neo in 1999's "The Matrix," a role that went to Keanu Reeves.

Was Nicolas Cage in The Matrix?

Nicolas Cage turned down major roles in Lord of the Rings and The Matrix because he wanted to be with his son.

Was Sandra Bullock in Matrix?

After Smith, they landed on Sandra Bullock, who told Today in 2009 that she turned down an offer to work on the movie. “It was pretty simple. We sent her the script to see if she was interested in it. And if she was interested in it we would try to make the change,” di Bonaventura said.

Why didn't Laurence Fishburne do Matrix 4?

The actor said in 2020 that he had “not been invited” to reprise his role (via New York Magazine). The Matrix: Resurrection's story ultimately made sense of the surprising decision to recast Morpheus, but that doesn't necessarily mean leaving out Fishburne was the right move for the film.

Will there be a Matrix 5?

Warner Bros. has officially confirmed the development of "Matrix 5," marking a significant return to the iconic sci-fi franchise. This upcoming installment will be the first without the directing duo, Lana and Lily Wachowski, who have been instrumental in shaping the series since its inception.

Who betrayed Morpheus?

The Matrix takes a dramatic turn when Nebuchadnezzar crew member Cypher betrays Morpheus, turning him over to the Agents.

Who turned down the role of Gandalf?

In this hilarious guest appearance, Christopher Plummer reveals to Conan O’Brien that he turned down an iconic role from The Lord of the Rings.

Who turned down Keanu Reeves role in The Matrix?

The Big Picture

Brad Pitt passed on playing Neo in The Matrix, opting for Fight Club instead. Will Smith also turned down the role, admitting he would have "messed it up." Despite stars passing on The Matrix, Keanu Reeves's performance as Neo remains iconic.