Will Smith fueled the rumor mill with an Instagram post.
“Matrix” fans spent Monday, January 6th, speculating: Will Will Smith play the hero Neo in a new version? Now the answer is clear.
No, Will Smith is not there
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Will Smith will not be involved in The Matrix 5. The article cites an “insider” as the source. There are no further casting confirmations for the film, which has been in development since 2024 under the direction of Drew Goddard.
The speculation began with a cryptic post that Will Smith uploaded to Instagram. A short video showed a “Matrix”-like computer screen with text being typed onto it. It said: “In 1997, the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix. Smith refused. Instead he chose ‘Wild Wild West’ as he felt it suited him better at the time. But the question remains: What would ‘The Matrix’ have been like with Will Smith as Neo? Wake up, Will… The Matrix has you…”
Preview of the next “Matrix” film
The post clearly alludes to the classic 1999 film by the directing duo Lana and Lilly Wachowski, which ultimately made Keanu Reeves world famous and shaped the science fiction genre and generations.
“Wild Wild West” by Barry Sonnenfeld, on the other hand, was a flop at the box office and wasn’t particularly well received by critics either. So it remains exciting to see what exactly Will Smith teased. Fans are just as excited about the first film in the “Matrix” series that is not directed by any of the Wachowski siblings. After all, Lana Wachowski is on board as executive producer. Director Drew Goddard was previously involved as a screenwriter on “The Martian: Save Mark Watney” (2015) and “World War Z” (2013), among others. As a director, he most recently worked on “Bad Times At The El Royale” (2018).