Nicolas Cage also turned down the part because of "family obligations". Warner Bros. sought Brad Pitt or Val Kilmer for the role. When both declined, Leonardo DiCaprio initially accepted the role, but ultimately turned it down because he did not want to do a visual effects film directly after Titanic.
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.
Johnny Depp was a top contender for Neo, but Keanu Reeves was ultimately chosen and nailed the role. Notable actors like Sandra Bullock, Nicolas Cage, and Samuel L. Jackson also passed on Matrix roles, impacting the franchise.
Nicholas Cage also turned down the role due to family obligations, and Val Kilmer, one of the producers' top picks, turned down both the role of Neo and Fishburne's Morpheus. Instead, he worked on the poorly received At First Sight. Interestingly, Sandra Bullock was also considered for the role, with Warner Bros.
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.
Overview. Smith began as an Agent, an AI program in the Matrix programmed to keep order within the system by terminating human simulacra that would bring instability to the simulated reality, as well as any rogue programs that no longer serve a purpose to the Machine collective.
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.
Speaking of The Matrix, Brad Pitt has also expressed regret about turning down the role of Neo. “I took the red pill,” he joked in 2020, referencing the choice in the film between having total clarity or remaining in blissful ignorance.
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.
Matrix Theory is based on the idea that the world is like a computer program, with a set of rules and algorithms that determine how things work. According to as per research, understanding these rules and algorithms is the key to success in life, and anyone can learn to "HACK" the matrix by mastering them.
Morpheus tells of the original “the One,” the first person to wake from the Matrix. Because they were the first, they necessarily broke out on their own. Nearly everyone in Zion can trace their freedom directly back to that first mental prison break.
Cast. Keanu Reeves as Neo: A computer programmer, born Thomas A. Anderson, who secretly operates as a hacker named Neo. Reeves described his character as someone who felt that something was wrong, and was searching for Morpheus and the truth to break free.
I regret that I turned down Catwoman. That was pretty fierce… I also turned down the role in The Matrix - can you believe that? I wanted to kill myself.
Sandra Bullock Was Offered Keanu Reeves' 'The Matrix' Role, Says Producer as Classic Turns 20. Before Keanu Reeves starred as the iconic Neo in the 1999 film The Matrix, producers for the film considered an actress for the role.
There's another fan theory connecting Keanu Reeves' role in John Wick to his turn as Neo in The Matrix franchise. It's possible that the John Wick franchise's heightened reality exists within the advanced computer simulation of The Matrix, where he's managed to harness superhuman abilities – much like Neo.
The Oracle: “But…you already know what I'm going to tell you.” Neo: “I'm not the One.” This makes it clear that it is Neo who comes to the conclusion that he is not the purported hero of humanity, which allows the Oracle to nudge him gentle on the right path.
Jonathan Groff's performance as Agent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections was on point, but the fact that the only reason why Smith had to look different in the film was that Hugo Weaving couldn't return lessened the impact of this reinvented version of the character.
Agent Smith being formed from the reminiscences of a previous One would explain why he acts and sounds different from other Agents. Smith would have originated from a human, thus explaining why he is able to engage in conversations with Neo and Morpheus.
