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First Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
After turning down Keanu Reeves' The Matrix, Will Smith admits rejecting Leonardo DiCaprio-Christopher Nolan's Inception: 'I am hurt by those...'
After admitting that he rejected The Matrix, which later featured Keanu Reeves, the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star revealed that he turned down Christopher Nolan's mind-bending sci-fi, Inception which went finally to Leonardo DiCaprio read more Academy Award winner Will Smith has been giving shocking revelations regarding her filmography, which has stunned his fans. After admitting that he rejected The Matrix, which later featured Keanu Reeves, the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star revealed that he turned down Christopher Nolan's mind-bending sci-fi, Inception which went finally to Leonardo DiCaprio. 'I don't think I've ever said it publicly but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another,' Smith said in an interview with radio station Kiss Xtra. 'Chris Nolan brought me Inception first and I didn't get it. I've never said that out loud. Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities… they don't pitch well. But I am hurt by those, too,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 2010 blockbuster earned $839 million worldwide and is considered to be one of the finest movies in the history of World cinema. It also featured Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Dileep Rao, and Michael Caine. The actor admitted that the one role, which he still regrets turning down is Neo from The Matrix, which turned out to be one of the biggest franchises and made Keanu Reeves a humongous star. 'It hurts too bad to talk about,' Smith said. Directed by The Wachowskis, The Matrix also featured Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano in prominent roles. On the professional front, Will Smith was last seen in Bad Boys: Ride or Die . Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the movie also featured Martin Lawrence, Tasha Smith, Joe Pantoliano, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Jacob Scipio, John Salley and DJ Khaled in prominent roles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Chris Nolan brought me Inception first..': Will Smith opens up about almost replacing Leonardo DiCaprio
Imagine Inception (2010)... but with Will Smith diving into dream levels instead of Leonardo DiCaprio. That alternate timeline almost became reality. In a surprising revelation, Will Smith recently admitted that he was this close to starring in Christopher Nolan's mind-bending sci-fi epic. In a new interview with radio station Kiss Xtra, the actor opened up about the major role he let slip away — and the regret that came with it. 'I don't think I've ever said it publicly but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another,' Smith said. 'Chris Nolan brought me Inception first and I didn't get it. I've never said that out loud. Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities… they don't pitch well. But I am hurt by those, too.' The 2010 film eventually became one of Leonardo DiCaprio's biggest box office hits, earning a massive $839 million worldwide and cementing its place in sci-fi history. But as Smith revealed, it could've been him in that iconic spinning-top ending. Interestingly, Inception's casting journey didn't start with Will either. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Brad Pitt was Nolan's original first choice. When that didn't pan out, the offer went to Smith, who passed after not fully grasping the plot. Only then did DiCaprio sign on and help turn the film into a global phenomenon. Still, while missing out on Inception might sting, Smith admits there's one role that haunts him even more: Neo in The Matrix (1999). That part, of course, went to Keanu Reeves and birthed one of the most iconic action franchises of all time. 'It hurts too bad to talk about,' Smith said about that one. So while we got DiCaprio in Inception and Reeves in The Matrix, it's always fun — and a little heartbreaking — to imagine what could have been had Will Smith been the one bending reality on screen.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Here's why Will Smith turned down Christopher Nolan's 'Inception'
Will Smith recently revealed that he turned down the lead role in Christopher Nolan's Inception because he didn't understand the plot. In an interview with Kiss Xtra (via HuffPost), Smith admitted he initially struggled to grasp the concept of the film, leading him to pass on the role that ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie went on to become a worldwide success, grossing $839 million. Smith's decision to reject Inception is part of a longer list of iconic films that he passed on, including The Matrix and Django Unchained. Will Smith reveals director Christopher Nolan brought him the movie "Inception" first, but he turned it down and says movies about alternate realities don't pitch well. (🎥 Kiss Xtra) — The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) June 15, 2025 "I don't think I've ever said it publicly, but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another," Smith shared during the candid conversation. He explained that films involving alternate realities often don't pitch well, adding that he regrets turning down Inception, though it wasn't as painful as rejecting the role of Neo in The Matrix. That part was later taken by Keanu Reeves, whose portrayal became iconic, turning The Matrix into one of the most popular franchises of all time. Smith also reflected on his decision to turn down the role in Django Unchained, which eventually went to Jamie Foxx. While the role intrigued him, Smith did not agree with Quentin Tarantino's vision, particularly the emphasis on vengeance in the story. He told THR that he felt the film should have been a love story rather than one centered around vengeance. Despite the career missteps, Smith's transparency about his decisions offers insight into the creative conflicts that shaped his career.
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Will Smith Revealed The Shocking Reason He Turned Down "Inception," And I Honestly Can't Believe It
Inception is, without a doubt, one of Christopher Nolan's most beloved films. The 2010 sci-fi actioner made over $837 million worldwide, and it got nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture. (It ended up winning four, too: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.) Among many other things, the film featured an iconic performance from Leonardo DiCaprio as protagonist Dominic Cobb — and, as it turns out, we came very close to getting a different person in that role instead. The person in question: Oscar-winning megastar Will Smith — who recently revealed to Kiss Xtra that he was offered the role of Dominic first, and ultimately turned it down. Now, actors turn down roles all the time. This is especially true in Will's case: Back in 2019, he revealed that he once passed on the lead role in the also-legendary action film The Matrix. But his reasoning for walking away from Inception — a high-concept film that admittedly takes a few viewings to really absorb — is, well, pretty interesting. 'I don't think I've ever said it publicly but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another,' Will said. 'Chris Nolan brought me Inception first, and I didn't get it." Since Will was specifically offered the role, what he presumably means when he says he didn't "get it" is that he quite literally didn't understand the plot of Inception. "I've never said that out loud," he admitted. "Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities… they don't pitch well." He also went on to say that it "hurt" to pass on Inception and The Matrix, only to watch them become so successful afterwards. Joy Malone / GC Images
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here's Why Will Smith Turned Down Christopher Nolan's Offer to Star in ‘Inception'
Will Smith has been open about his regrets over turning down The Matrix, but there's another blockbuster that got away about 15 years ago. Smith sat down with Kiss Xtra over the weekend, where he revealed that Christopher Nolan offered him the lead role in 2010's Inception, but he 'didn't get it' and passed on the sci-fi/thriller. More from Billboard OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder Says Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests on 250th Anniversary of U.S. Army Are 'Super Bummer' Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Warns About U.S. 'Slipping Into Fascism' During Download Festival Set: 'It's Up to Us to Fight Back!' Heart's Nancy Wilson Blasts Donald Trump For Playing 'Barracuda' Without Permission During D.C. Military Parade 'I don't think I've ever said it publicly before, but I am going to say it now because we are opening up to one another,' he said after revisiting the pain of overlooking The Matrix. 'Chris Nolan brought me Inception first and I didn't get it. I've never said that out loud.' The Oscar winner continued to peel back the layers behind his reasoning: 'Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities; they don't pitch well. But I am hurt by those two. It hurts too bad to talk about.' Per The Hollywood Reporter, Nolan also brought Inception to Brad Pitt, who turned down the offer after only having a 48-hour window to take it. The role eventually landed in Leonardo DiCaprio's lap, and he capitalized on the blockbuster, which grossed over $800 million at the global box office. Nolan's next film, The Odyssey, is slated to arrive in July 2026. He's assembled a star-studded cast that includes Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong'o to retell the ancient Greek saga. As for Will Smith, he actually mocked his decision to pass up on The Matrix as part of the music video for 'Beautiful Scars' featuring Big Sean, where he played the role of Neo. Building off his Based On a True Story album, Smith returned on Friday (June 13) with his 'Pretty Girls' single, which finds him celebrating beautiful women across the globe in all shapes and sizes. Watch Will Smith talk about Inception below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
