The Matrix : Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

Here are actors who could have been in the three major starring roles in Matrix, Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/TheMatrix
Will Smith was offered the role of Neo, but turned it down for Wild Wild West. Smith explained his decision in 2004, in an interview with Wired:

“You know, The Matrix is a difficult concept to pitch. In the pitch, I just didn’t see it. I watched Keanu’s performance — and very rarely do I say this — but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix.”

The Wachowskis wanted Johnny Depp for Neo, while Warner Bros. wanted either Brad Pitt or Val Kilmer. Ewan McGregor turned down the role of Neo, as he was filming Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. David Duchovny turned down the role of Neo to make The X-Files: Fight the Future. Nicolas Cage turned down the part of Neo because of family commitments. Tom Cruise was also considered. Leonardo DiCaprio turned it down, supposedly because he was concerned about the amount of special effects.
Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson were considered for Morpheus. Also, Chow Yun-fat was offered the role of Morpheus, but turned it down. Russell Crowe also turned down the role of Morpheus. He said: “I just didn’t get it. I couldn’t get past page forty-two. That world was just not interesting to me.”
Sandra Bullock turned down the role of Trinity because she couldn’t see herself acting alongside the actor the studio intended to play Neo. (This was before Reeves, her co-star from the 1994 hit Speed, was cast.) She later regretted this decision. Janet Jackson was initially approached for the role of Trinity, but scheduling conflicts prevented her from accepting it. In an interview, she stated that turning down the role was difficult for her, so she later referenced the film in the “Intro” and “Outro” interludes on her tenth studio album Discipline. Michelle Yeoh was also considered for Trinity, as was Gillian Anderson.
At the film's 20th anniversary, she revealed she was also offered Neo, with the Wachowskis being willing to make the character female if it meant getting a big star.
Jean Reno was approached to play Agent Smith. He turned it down and took a role in Godzilla (1998) instead. He was also unwilling to move to Australia.

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

Fate isn't without sense of irony my friend,the roles fell to the right actors.

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

That was interesting and amusing. I'm so glad the other actors were otherwise engaged!

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

I'm just so thankful that overdone slab of ham Will Smith was not in that movie.

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Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

Yes my prison buddy

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo






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Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

The ones who definitely wouldn't have worked as Neo are David Duchovny, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage. I think the rest could have pulled it off, even Will Smith. It just needs someone who can play humble well.

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

Can you imagine Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp as Neo. What a travesty that would have been. My choice would have been Tom Cruise.

Re: Nearly everyone in Hollywood was considered or turned down the role of Neo

Agreed, Steve.
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