UPDATE: 2025-07-10 15:32 EST BY SARAH MORAN
THR’sAaron Couchhas since debunked the video being a hint at Will Smith starring in a newMatrixmovie.
Our original story continues below.
Will Smith teases his potential involvement in a newThe Matrixmovie.Smith was offered the role of Neo for the originalThe Matrixmovie in 1997but turned it down to star inWild Wild West, which became critically panned and performed poorly at the box office.The Matrixfranchise returned withThe Matrix Resurrectionsin 2021, and Warner Bros. laterconfirmedThe Matrix 5is in development, although the Wachowski sisters will not direct this time, withThe Cabin in the Woods' Drew Goddard directing instead.
On Instagram,Smithhas nowshared a cryptic video that references him turning down the role and the Matrix telling him to wake up. The words are typed out on a computer and with a font reminiscent of the originalMatrixmovie, complete with the sound of a keyboard clacking in the background. The message on the screens asks"What would the Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?“before the Matrix ominously reveals that it has him. Check out the video below:
What This Means For The Matrix
The Matrix 5 May Feature Will Smith As Neo
Smith’s video could be the first indicator ofThe Matrix 5’s storyand cast could look like. Itmay be the franchise’s first installment without Keanu Reevesas Neoand may feature the iconic character being played by Smith instead. This would not be the first time the franchise has recast major characters, withThe Matrix Resurrectionshaving Jonathan Groff play Agent Smith instead of Hugo Weaving and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II playing a version of Morpheus instead of Laurence Fishburne.
What The Matrix Actually Is: Origin, Purpose & Meaning Explained In Full
The Matrix franchise’s titular simulation has a complex backstory with an impressive amount of lore, but it does make sense with a little thought.
In the cases of Smith and Morpheus,The Matrix Resurrectionsfound narrative in-universe reasons to explain why these prominent characters were recast and why they looked different. If Smith is playing Neo inThe Matrix 5, the sequel will need to have an in-universe explanation for the character’s different appearance and demeanor.Smith playing Neo is also possible as a reboot of the franchise, meaning someone other than Carrie-Anne Moss may play Trinity as well.The Matrix Resurrectionsfelt like a sequel and a soft reboot, butThe Matrix 5could solely be a reboot.
Our Take On Will Smith’s Video
Will Smith As Neo Could Be The Franchise’s Biggest Shift Yet
While the details behind Smith’s video need to be clarified, acknowledging how he passed on playing Neo, and the idea of him now playing the character, would be a compelling way to begin generating excitement forThe Matrix 5. None ofThe Matrixmovieshave been able to live up to the original, but that could change with a story led by Smith and an entirely new cast.The Matrix’s next movie may be able to chart a truly new course for the franchisefor the first time since 1999.
The Matrix
Cast
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
