Will Smith recently posted a cryptic video on Instagram, sparking speculation among fans that he might be appearing in the next Matrix installment. The video didn’t give much away, but it contained some intriguing text that highlighted how the Wachowskis initially offered him the role of Neo in The Matrix back in 1997, a role he turned down in favor of Wild Wild West. The text asked, “What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?” with a final note urging, “Wake up, Will. The Matrix has you.”
This cryptic post left fans wondering if Smith might make a surprise return to the Matrix franchise, but multiple sources have confirmed he won’t be in the upcoming film. It seems the tease was actually related to something else: Smith’s upcoming music album. After a 20-year hiatus since his last release in 2005, the four-time Grammy Award winner is gearing up to drop his new album. Smith’s solo music career includes notable albums like Big Willie Style (1997) and Willennium (1999), so it looks like the Matrix tease is a clever way to promote his long-awaited return to the music scene.
It’s fun to imagine what The Matrix could’ve been with Smith as Neo, but for now, it seems the Bad Boys actor’s focus is elsewhere!