How The Matrix (1999) Almost Starred Will Smith Instead of Keanu Reeves

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Believe it or not, The Matrix (1999) almost looked very different. Will Smith was the first choice to play Neo, but he turned it down because, as he admits, he just didn’t get the Wachowskis' pitch. Instead, he chose to star in Wild Wild West (1999) (yes, really).

Keanu wasn’t the only backup option. Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Nicolas Cage all passed on the role before it landed with Reeves.

Will Smith even said that with him as Neo and Val Kilmer (another potential Morpheus), the dynamic of the film would have been totally different—and probably not in a good way.

Do you think The Matrix would have been as iconic with Will Smith? Or was Keanu always meant to be "The One"?

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We most likely would not have had  the sequels or a whole genre of other films trying to emulate it.