Brad Pitt & Will Smith Both Turned Down "Inception"

Do you think Django Unchained and The Matrix would have been better or worse if they had starred Will Smith instead of Jamie Foxx and Keanu Reeves, who ended up playing the parts?

In a recent interview with Kiss Xtra, actor Will Smith surprised fans by revealing he turned down the lead role in Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending thriller Inception—simply because he didn’t understand it. Brad Pitt was Nolan's original choice but passed too.

“I don’t think I’ve ever said it publicly,” Smith admitted. “Chris Nolan brought me Inception first and I didn’t get it. Movies that go into those alternate realities… they don’t pitch well.”

Ultimately, Leonardo DiCaprio took on the iconic role, and Inception went on to earn over $839 million worldwide and critical acclaim for its complex narrative and visual innovation. Smith’s confession adds Inception to a list of major films he passed on, including The Matrix and Django Unchained.

Smith has spoken before about turning down Neo in The Matrix, citing confusion with the Wachowskis’ pitch. In a 2019 YouTube video, he recalled their vision focused more on the directing style than the story. “Imagine you’re in a fight… and you stop jumping mid-jump while cameras spin around you,” Smith joked.

As for Django Unchained, Smith told GQ that the film’s revenge-driven narrative clashed with his vision. “I felt the only way [to do it] was as a love story,” he said.

Despite missing out on these iconic roles, Smith maintains a candid and reflective outlook. “It hurts too bad to talk about,” he said of The Matrix—but fans still admire his transparency and self-awareness.

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Source: Variety

Photo Credit: Warner Bros/Columbia