Will Smith Teases Possible Role as Neo in Cryptic ‘Matrix’ Reboot Post
The ‘Matrix’ franchise is a groundbreaking sci-fi series that began with the 1999 film, known for its mind-bending story about reality, technology, and freedom. It introduced iconic imagery like “bullet time” slow-motion effects and the red pill/blue pill choice, which have become part of pop culture.
The films sparked deep conversations about philosophy, technology, and human consciousness, inspiring countless books, memes, and other movies. Its influence can still be seen in fashion, special effects, and how we think about virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
Now it seems that the franchise is getting rebooted and it appears that Will Smith will be in the main role taking on the role of Neo following Keanu Reeves’ legendary portrayal of the character.
Will Smith shared a cryptic post on his social media teasing a new Matrix project and himself in the role of Neo:
The video states the following:
Wake up Will.
In 1997, The Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in the Matrix. Smith turned it down. He chose Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time. But the question remains: What would have been Matrix like with Will Smith as Neo?
After ‘Resurrections,’ producer James McTeigue said there were no plans for more ‘Matrix’ films, but the open ending left room for the future. In April 2024, Warner Bros. announced a new ‘Matrix’ movie with Drew Goddard writing and directing, after a successful pitch. This will be the first ‘Matrix’ film not directed by the Wachowskis, though Lana will still be an executive producer.
We don’t know whether that project is connected to Smith since almost nothing is known about it.
In March 2017, Warner Bros. started developing a new ‘Matrix’ project and considered making a TV series, but chose to work on a new film instead, with Zak Penn writing and Michael B. Jordan eyed for the lead.
The Wachowskis were not involved at that time. Potential ideas included a prequel about a young Morpheus or focusing on one of his descendants. Reboot of the franchise was also one of the options. By 2019, Penn confirmed the script was set before the events of the original films, and Jordan expressed interest but didn’t confirm his role.
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