Will Smith Admits Painful Regret Over Turning Down ‘Inception' Role
Will Smith's batting average when it comes to selecting his movie roles is certainly nothing to turn your nose up at. However, just like any actor, Smith has a few movies that disappointed, and others that he turned down that wound up being major hits.
While Smith has previously admitted to other noteworthy films he passed on, his comments while speaking on radio station KISS XTRA make it apparent he still feels the sting of one or two specifically.
As HuffPost detailed, Smith admitted to KISS XTRA that writer and director Chris Nolan pitched the movie Inception to him, but he turned it down. The Bad Boys star explained that he "didn't get" the idea behind the film.
"I don't think I've ever even said it publicly before..." Smith said. "...Chris Nolan brought me Inception first, and I didn't get it."
"And now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities; they don't pitch well."
Smith also called his decision to pass on The Matrix, a role in which Keanu Reeves ultimately thrived, one of his "beautiful scars." At the end of the conversation, Smith admitted he's "hurt by those two," referencing passing on Inception and The Matrix.
Leonardo DiCaprio ultimately starred in Inception, and it became one of his biggest hits. The movie grossed $828 million worldwide on a reported budget of $160 million and pulled in 102 awards overall, including four Oscars.Will Smith Admits Painful Regret Over Turning Down 'Inception' Role first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2025
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