Why I Turned Down The Matrix | STORYTIME

It’s been gossiped about in Hollywood for years, but this is the true story behind why Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix.

Special Thanks The Unusual Suspects:

________________________

► WATCH MORE

► FOLLOW WILL
________________________

◈ Created by Westbrook Studios

Executive Producers: Will Smith, Miguel Melendez
Producers: Aaron Ferguson, Lukas Kaiser, Mike Nussbaum, Sadao Turner
Editors: Jeff Blank, Chris Dallas-Feeney
Animator: Chris Dallas-Feeney
Camera Operators: Jeff Blank, Aidan Tanner

#TheMatrix #Storytime

[lathamrowe]

One of the rare times I'm glad that happened. Keanu Reeves IS Neo.

[StarWarsTheory]

lol i can't imagine Keanu not being Neo. That's a crazy story, who knew...

[SimBol]

Keanu is much better at playing stoic, reserved characters like Neo or John Wick. Smith is at his best when he's energetic, be it in comedic or dramatic roles. Neo is an introverted hacker who keeps his emotions close to his vest; Keanu pulls that off well.

[perra]

Keanu was born to do Neo. Thank you for turning it down.

[Kadz]

Glad to see small time youtuber Will Smith getting movie offers

[muskylounger]

"Imagine if you could stop jumping... in the middle of the jump" Keanu: "woah"

[ThePoorBoy]

It's become something of an urban legend that the Wachowskis had Brandon Lee in mind for Neo when they were in the early stages of developing the idea. I really do think that Keanu was meant to play Neo, but Brandon would have been incredible in the role as well.

[bizznickjoe]

The way Neo was and how Keanu Reeves portrayed him was perfect if you asked me. Neo was somehwat socially reserved maybe even autistic in some cases and I don't think Will would have portrayed that properly. Will Smith is a bit too goofy and comedic to play it.

[joannot]

The Wachowskis were so pissed about it that they called the bad guy:
-Agent Smith.

[ZacharyLaid]

Will Smith is a great actor but I'm glad Keanu Reeves did the Matrix, perfect choice.

[nomnomfpv]

Wild Wild West was my friend and I’s favorite movie as kids. He passed away 7 years ago. I remember we re-enacted the movie in his backyard and charged the neighborhood a quarter and out up flyers for our “show”. He played Jim West, and I was Gordon. One of our last conversations was talking about how we made $20 bucks doing it.
By the way, we re-enacted the movie to the song on repeat.

That movie introduced me to so many great actors I would see in later films. Kline, Branagh, Ted Levine, Salma Hayek, and Musetta Vander was probably my first celebrity crush since she did Mortal Kombat, Wild Wild West, and O Brother, Where Art Thou in the span of those few years.

[DeathBringer]

Don't worry, Will. I went to see Wild Wild West in theaters and even got the Burger King cup and kid's meal toy that tied into the movie as well at the time, lmao. It was still a decent movie, even though I'm a Matrix fan too of course. And looking back, I can't imagine anyone else in that role besides Keanu.

[OutworldStudios]

Little does Will Smith remember, that during that "pitch meeting" he took the blue pill.

[faggio]

The Oracle said he wasn't The One.

[Awillii]

Best decision, Will! Keanu and the other cast members were perfect.

[eltonsvendsen]

I loved it that he actually admitted that he did us a favor lol 😆

[sandorclegane]

Agent Smith - "it is inevitable, Mr Anderson"

Neo - "awww hell nawww"

[weirdviking]

Sometimes movies choose you. The Matrix just isnt Will Smith's style. Keanu was great in it.

[keelahrose]

Will's look to camera at 2:17 tickles me EVERY TIME!!!! I rewatch this all this time and pause it on that part, ha ha.

[kryptoniteee]

I’m glad that you know that you weren’t the right person for the role. Keanu did a good job, he was perfect for it. The best thing you ever did was turn that role down. It wasn’t the best thing for you you, but it was the best thing for us, the audience.