“In 1997, the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix. Smith turned it down. He chose Wild Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time,” read the message on Smith’s Instagram “But the question remains: What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?”

Does Will Smith have his sights on The Matrix. Roughly 26 years after the Academy Award winner declined the lead role of Neo in the action and sci-fi franchise, which ultimately went to Keanu Reeves , on Monday (January 6), Smith tied himself to The Matrix with a cryptic Instagram post.

It’s a known fact that before Keanu Reeves immortalised Neo on the big screen with the groundbreaking and genre-defining The Matrix in 1999, it was Will Smith who was first offered the role but he rejected it for Wild Wild West (1999).

Will Smith teased joining 'The Matrix' franchise, but sources confirm he won't be part of the fifth installment.

Will Smith has sparked excitement on social media with a mysterious post that has fans speculating he might appear in the next Matrix movie. The actor shared a set of intriguing lines alluding to the legendary 1999 sci-fi film,

Will Smith's cryptic post about rejecting the role of Neo in The Matrix sparked fan speculation about his involvement in the upcoming fifth installment.