Brad Pitt Reveals the Famous Role He Turned Down

Brad Pitt has a career full of legendary roles, but it is the one he walked away from that is currently sparking a fresh wave of “what if” conversations. During an appearance at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Oscar winner opened up about the major movie roles he passed on over the years.

Among them, he made a startling admission that has sent sci-fi fans into a tailspin: he turned down the lead role of Neo in the 1999 hit The Matrix. The actor made light of the situation with a clever reference to the movie’s most famous choice, telling the crowd that he did pass on The Matrix and that he took the red pill.

While Keanu Reeves has become completely synonymous with the hacker-turned-savior, Pitt was actually the studio’s first choice for the part. He clarified that he was only ever offered the original film and not the sequels, adding with his typical humility that if I didn’t get it, then it wasn’t mine.

Pitt’s reasoning for passing on such a massive project comes down to a specific acting ethos he has developed over his decades in Hollywood. He explained that he truly believes the role was never mine and that it belonged to the person who eventually brought it to life on screen.

This perspective has likely helped him navigate a career that he admits could fill two nights’ worth of stories about great movies he decided to skip. The revelation is particularly fascinating given how much The Matrix changed the cinematic landscape with its “bullet time” effects and philosophical depth.

While it is hard to imagine Pitt wearing Neo’s signature black trench coat, his presence would have undoubtedly changed the tone of the entire franchise. Instead, Pitt went on to star in Fight Club that same year, another cult classic that defined the late 90s in its own unique way.

As of February, Brad Pitt is showing no signs of slowing down, even as he approaches his mid-60s. He recently wrapped filming for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a $200 million Netflix sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino.

He is also currently on the island of Hydra in Greece, where he began filming the Edward Berger-directed drama The Riders earlier this month. Additionally, Pitt’s high-octane racing film, F1, was a massive success following its release in late 2025 and is currently a top contender at the Academy Awards.

Meanwhile, the Matrix universe is showing signs of new life even without Pitt. A fifth installment is currently in early development with The Martian writer Drew Goddard set to direct, though it remains unconfirmed if original stars Keanu Reeves or Carrie-Anne Moss will return.

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