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Will Smith, pictured 2015. Axelle/GettyImages
Will Smith took to social today and made everyone think he’s starring in the next Matrix movie in development at Warner Bros.
“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. But the question remains: What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?”
“Wake up Will…”
“The Matrix has you…”
But sources say Smith is not attached to the new Matrix movie. The whole tease is connected to a new music project that Smith has underway. The last album he released was back in 2005, “Lost and Found” which featured the hit single, “Switch” which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Smith’s third and last Hot 100 top 10. Last June, Smith dropped his first single in close to two decades, the gospel hip hop track “You Can Make It” featuring singer Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir.
Wild Wild West bombed in the summer of 1999 at production cost of $170M, and earning $222M worldwide. Smith co-starred with Kevin Kline and Salma Hayek. Warner Bros, the same studio behind The Matrix, was behind Wild Wild West. The Matix, which had Keanu Reeves in the lead role, went on to make a massive $467.8M and spawned three more movies, the franchise counting to date $1.79 billion.
A new Matrix movie with Oscar nominated The Martian screenwriter Drew Goddard writing is in the works at Warners with the franchise’s original co-scribe and co-director Lana Wachowski executive producing. No cast attachments yet. Goddard will produce with partner Sarah Esberg (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) via their Goddard Textiles banner.
Reps for Smith declined comment
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