Will Smith Posts Mysterious Message About The Matrix

Is Will Smith going to take advantage of the famous missed opportunity again?

According to legend, Will Smith almost got the role of Neo in The Matrix back in 1997. He turned down the role in Wild Wild West, and Keanu Reeves ended up landing the lead role, and the rest, as they say, is history. Reeves starred in three more Matrix films directed by the Wachowskis, and Will Smith went on to have a pretty good career himself. But Smith as Neo has always been one of Hollywood’s most famous “What If” scenarios.

Well, Smith seems to be hinting at some kind of collaboration with The Matrix. On Instagram, Smith posted a video message that recounts the famous story but asks the question: “What would The Matrix be like with Will Smith as Neo?” and then posts the response: “Wake up, Will… You’re captured by the Matrix…”

Sad, Hollywood Reporter says Smith will not star in the next Matrix film, which is being directed by Drew Goddard. In fact, no one seems to know what Smith is teasing here, although we hope we find out soon.

Meanwhile, the Cabin in the Woods director will write and direct the new Matrix film for Warner Bros. Other than the animated film The Animatrix, this is the first major Matrix film not to be directed by the Wachowskis, although Lana Wachowski will executive produce Goddard’s film.

The last Matrix film was The Matrix: Resurrections, released in 2021. Starring Reeves as Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, Resurrections served as a conclusion of sorts to Neo’s story, which began in 1997. But given the scale of the universe, there are many other stories that could be told in the Matrix universe.

We gave The Matrix: Rebirth 4 points reviewcalling it “a bunch of really good ideas thrown together to make a bad and sometimes ugly movie.” Oh.

Matt Kim is a senior features editor at IGN.