
Thank you very much."įor his part, Smith has said he eventually doesn't regret the choice to turn down 'The Matrix,' as he thinks Reeves was a more suitable fit for the character than he would've been. It impacted my life, personally and creatively. And, it was such a wonderful creative experience, and so to play Neo in The Matrix trilogy and now in the fourth. When asked how he feels about Will Smith turning down the lead in 'The Matrix' before it was offered to him the actor said, "Well, it changed my life. Given that he's about to star in 'The Matrix Resurrections,' he says, he's very thankful to have obtained the part. Now, in an interview with Esquire, Reeves thanks Smith for paving the way to his starring in 'The Matrix.' He considers the film to have been life-changing, both professionally and personally, and he speaks very confidently about the experience of making it.
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Unclear on the story, the movie star turned it down in favor of 'Wild Wild West,' which, by difference, didn't do very well upon release. However, Reeves wasn't the studio's initial decision to play "the One," as the Wachowskis first proposed the character to Will Smith.

The Canadian actor was well known before portraying Neo, having broken through in 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' and become an established action star in 'Point Break' and 'Speed,' but his performance in 'The Matrix' has arguably become one of the most significant parts of his career. A third sequel titled 'The Matrix Resurrections' is set to release on December 22 after the original trilogy ended back in 2003. Keanu Reeves is thankful to Will Smith for not taking the role of Neo in 'The Matrix.' Reeves ended up featuring in the 1999 film by the Wachowskis, which is now regarded as one of the greatest science-fiction movies ever created.
