The Matrix was almost very different.
It's not really uncommon for lots of different actors to be up for a role, reject a role, or even be cast and have to step away from a role. But it's still kind of fun to play "What if?" as we scroll through the possibilities.
The Matrix, for example, could have been a very different film. Before Keanu Reeves was cast, a whole slew of other actors said "no" to the Wachowski film. Let's check out who walked away from what became a blockbuster performance.
1. Will Smith
Smith was a huge star in the late 90s after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He had moved to the big screen with Bad Boys, Independence Day and Men in Black. Instead of signing on for The Matrix, Smith decided to make Wild, Wild West, saying he didn't think he was right for the part.
2. Brad Pitt
Pitt, star of Se7en and 12 Monkeys, was a pretty obvious choice for Neo. He also said YES but had to back out after Seven Years In Tibet. He said that the film was pitched as a one off, not a trilogy, though he doesn't think that would have influenced his decision to step back. He also has said that the part was made for Reeves.
3. Leonardo DiCaprio
We're talking just-after-Titanic Leo here. He was a big name and action would have been a new foray for him. He was initially enthusiastic but after Titanic, he didn't want to haul another huge-budget effects-heavy movie so he backed out. He has also noted that Reeves was great for the part.
4. Val Kilmer
Producers wanted Kilmer for anything. He turned down Neo and was offered Morpheus. He also declined. He decided to make At First Sight, a romantic movie about a blind man falling in love, instead of the Matrix trilogy.
5. Sandra Bullock
Apparently at one point, Warner Bros and the Wachowskis contemplated making Neo a woman so they could try to nab Sandra Bullock, who was a huge star after Speed and A Time To Kill. Bullock liked the script but didn't think she was right for the role, so she passed.
6. Nicholas Cage
Cage had a series of action hits with The Rock, Con-Air, and Face/Off and was approached for the role of Neo. He declined the role and said he had family obligations.
The post All The Actors Who Turned Down Playing Neo In ‘The Matrix’ appeared first on The Mother of All Nerds.
All The Actors Who Turned Down Playing Neo In ‘The Matrix’
Source: Pinoy Inquirer News
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