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Will Smith shared an unsual post online on Monday, one that led many of his followers to believe he had been cast in a new movie in The Matrix franchise.
“In 1997, the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix. Smith turned it down," the post begins, referencing Smith's real and unfortunate career decision. "He chose Wild Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time. But the question remains: What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?”
“Wake up Will…” the post continues, “The Matrix has you…”
Understandably, many reading this assumed Smith was gearing up to announce something Matrix-related. However, industry sources quickly told Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter that Smith is not involved in the spin-off Warner Bros are currently working on with writer Drew Goddard and executive producer Lana Wachowski.
Quite what Smith is teasing with his whole Matrix thing remains to be seen. Deadline suggests that it is a musical project, perhaps a follow-up to his 2005 album Lost and Found. Smith appeared at Coachella alonside J Balvin in 2024 and released "You Can Make It" later in the year.
The FADER has contacted Smith's reps for further information.
