Summary
Will Smith has starred in many blockbuster films. However, he also turned down several hit movies, which could have significantly contributed to his portfolio as an actor.
Smith is one of the most popular and acclaimed actors in Hollywood. He is best known for starring in the sci-fi classicIndependence Day(1996), sci-fi comedy franchiseMen in Black, the family dramaThe Pursuit of Happiness,the superhero comedy actionHancock,and as the charming and humorous Genie in the 2019 Disney live-actionAladdin. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2022 for portraying Richard Williams in the biographical sports dramaKing Richard. Smith was offered the lead role in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi action thrillerInception, but he turned it down for a surprising reason.
Smith recounted missing the opportunity to work with Nolan in the 2010 movieInceptionin an interview on the UK’s Kiss Extra radio station (via HuffPost). He spoke about the matter publicly for the first time and admitted that he didn’t grasp the concept when the film was pitched to him. “Chris Nolanbrought me Inception first and I didn’t get it,” Smith shared. When he realized what the plot was all about, he blamed the pitch for declining the offer. It turned out that he would have said “Yes” had he seen their vision for the movie. Smith explained:
Now that I think about it, it’s those movies that go into those alternate realities… they don’t pitch well.
Smith also turned downThe Matrixfor a similar reason — he didn’t understand the film’s concept. Smith was nearly cast as Neo, but he turned it down. The role was offered to Keanu Reeves, whose portrayal received praise and cementedThe Matrixas a sci-fi classic. In an interview withSway’s Universein April, Smith said he didn’t understand when the project was pitched to him. So, he rejected the offer and acceptedWild Wild West, which turned out to be a critical and commercial flop. However, when he saw Reeves’The Matrix, Smith realized the project was poorly pitched to him and admitted that it was a missed opportunity. “And then I saw it, I was like, ‘You jump and you freeze!’ I was like, ‘That was the right pitch!’ It was terrible… Listen, I pick good most of the time, but I missed that one hard,” Smith shared. Smith was also offered to lead Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 American revisionist Western filmDjango Unchained. However, he had reservations, so Tarantino told Smith he would see other people for the same role. Smith offered to talk with him again if he could not find anyone for the role. However, the filmmaker found his guy in Jamie Foxx, whose performance helped make the film a commercial and critical success.
Smith’s admission that he missed some major projects for failing to grasp the idea when they were pitched to him showed a mix of regret and humility on his part. When he talked aboutThe Matrix,which significantly boostedReeves' careerand cemented his place in science fiction, Smith’s remorse was evident, even saying he missed it “hard.” However, such instances highlight the challenges actors face when evaluating unconventional projects. Smith’s experiences underscore the importance of vision and understanding in the early stages of film development. Understandably, he turned down a project he didn’t understand because popular actors are not just performers; they are brands. The projects they accept influence their future casting opportunities, as well as their endorsement and commercial deals. Despite the missed opportunities, Smith has continued building a diverse and successful career, demonstrating his resilience.
