Actor Will Smith, known for major Hollywood blockbusters like Men in Black, Bad Boys, and Independence Day, nearly starred in another colossal franchise—The Matrix. As the franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary this year (and returns to theaters), we revisit the story of why Smith opted not to play Neo in The Matrix.

The story comes directly from Smith himself, who recounted the tale in an update on his YouTube channel five years ago. "This is one of those stories I'm not proud of, but it's the truth. I did turn down Neo in The Matrix," Smith explained.

In the late '90s, Smith was a shining star, having starred in the TV series Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) and films like Bad Boys (1995) and Independence Day (1996). He was a bonafide Hollywood megastar, receiving numerous offers for his next project. One of these was Men In Black, a film he initially didn't want to make due to concerns about being typecast as "the alien guy."

However, after a call from producer Steven Spielberg, who convinced him to trust the filmmaker's judgment, Smith made the movie, which led to two main sequels. In 1998, Smith was the top choice to play Neo in The Matrix, but this time, it wasn't fear of typecasting that led him to pass on the role. Instead, he simply didn't grasp the vision that The Wachowskis had for the film.

Smith recalled the Wachowskis pitching the now-famous sequence where Neo jumps in the air and the cameras pan around him in 360 degrees. While impressive, Smith wasn't sold. He ultimately passed on The Matrix and made Wild Wild West (1999) instead, a decision he later regretted.

Smith has enjoyed a long and successful career, but not all of his films were hits. However, in 2021, he starred in King Richard as Richard Williams, the father of tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams, earning an Academy Award for his performance.

Does Smith regret passing on Neo and The Matrix? By his own admission, he's not proud of the decision. After all, it would have been another windfall for Smith, as The Matrix films earned Reeves many millions over the years. But he's far from the first actor to pass on what would become a lucrative and career-defining role.