In spite of his recent cryptic Instagram post, Will Smith will not be joining director Drew Goddard in a new Matrix film for Warner Bros., according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This leaves open a mystery, given that Smith posted how he passed on the starring role of Neo in the classic 1999 sci-fi epic The Matrix, directed by Lilly Wachowski and Lana Wachowski.
The Instagram post featured Matrix-style computer font, stating: “In 1997, the Wachowski’s offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix. Smith turned it down. He chose Wild Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time. But the question remains: What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo? Wake up, Will… The Matrix has you…”
Smith was first on the wish list for the Wachowski’s to play the iconic main character, but he turned down the role back then. Instead, he chose to play in Wild Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time. The question of what The Matrix would have been like instead with Smith portraying Neo remains.
The Matrix went on to define a generation, while Wild Wild West was ripped apart by critics and turned into a box office flop. Smith starred alongside Kevin Kline, playing a former Civil War hero, in a rare miss.
Therefore, it is unclear what Smith’s post is trying to tease.
Drew Goddard, the writer-director behind films like The Martian (2015), The Cabin in the Woods (2011), and World War Z (2013). This is the first Matrix film not to be directed by a Wachowski, although Lana is serving as executive producer on the new project.
The Matrix was truly a spectacle in the history of cinema, released just over 25 years ago. It swept audiences with a mind-bending story, pushing the envelope of special effects and a brilliant performance by lead actor Keanu Reeves. The film grossed over $467 million worldwide, cementing its place in pop culture. The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions released back to back in 2003 as a way to extend the film franchise. A modern film, The Matrix Resurrections, came out in 2021.
Smith rose to fame as both a rapper and star of the beloved ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest movie performers, appearing in films like Independence Day (1996) and Men in Black (1997). He was in a major hit last year with Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, a movie that aimed to boost Smith’s film career after his scandal slapping Oscar host Chris Rock back in 2022 on live television.