Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/will-smith-turned-down-the-matrix-9-actors-who-passed-on-roles-that-went-to-someone-else/
Hollywood history is full of near misses. A famous role looks inevitable once the movie is a hit, yet many of those parts were offered to somebody else first.
Some actors said no because of scheduling, some because they didn’t get the script, and a few simply made a different bet. These nine cases are among the best documented, and each one changed a career, or two.
Will Smith and Neo in The Matrix
Smith has said openly that he was offered the role of Neo in The Matrix and passed. He chose to make Wild Wild West instead, a 1999 Western comedy that was a commercial disappointment and widely criticized.
Keanu Reeves took Neo, and the film became one of the defining science fiction hits of its era. Smith has described the decision as a mistake in his own interviews, which is part of why the story is so well known.
Will Smith and Django Unchained
Smith is on this list twice. He has said he was considered for the title role in Django Unchained and decided against it, reportedly because the character was not the lead in the way he wanted.
Jamie Foxx played Django in Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 film. Foxx’s performance became one of the most discussed of his career.
Tom Selleck and Indiana Jones
Tom Selleck was the first choice for Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. He had signed on…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-10-06 11:36:00
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