Since the 90s, Will Smith has starred in some of the most iconic films in American cinema that became worldwide box office hits.
However, he has also famously turned down the opportunity to star in some of the films that have become all-time classics. Whether he regretted them or not, it's still a sliding door discussion for fans as they wonder what would have happened if Smith had not given them a thumbs down.
Here are the five movies that Will Smith famously rejected to star in.
The Matrix
Smith famously turned down the offer to play Neo in The Matrix. He instead agreed to star in the maligned Western movie Wild Wild West, which is considered to be one of his worst projects.
As we all know, the role ended up going to Keanu Reeves, who has become a bigger movie star as a result of starring in the film and its sequels. Earlier this year, Smith made a music video for his new song where he recreated some of the scenes from The Matrix.
Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino originally wanted Smith to play the titular character in his acclaimed Western masterpiece Django Unchained. However, he turned down the offer, and Jamie Foxx was cast instead.
Years later, Smith revealed that he rejected starring in the film because he felt that the role "wasn't the lead," but he praised Foxx's work and thought that the film itself was brilliant.
Inception
Recently, Smith admitted that he turned down the offer to star in Christopher Nolan's now-celebrated masterpiece Inception. The leading role ended up going to Leonardo DiCaprio.
"I’ve never said that out loud. Now that I think about it, it’s those movies that go into those alternate realities... they don’t pitch well. But I am hurt by those, too," the Oscar winner said in the interview.
Independence Day: Resurgence
Smith opted not to return in the sequel Independence Day: Resurgence due to an alleged "scheduling conflict," while some stated that it might be due to the high salary demand from the actor.
As a result, the film decided to kill off Smith's character off-screen, and they introduced his stepson as one of the main heroes. However, the sequel was panned by critics and failed to match the box office performance of the original.
Rush Hour
Smith was reportedly offered to star in Rush Hour alongside Jackie Chan. However, he turned it down, and the role of Carter ended up going to Chris Tucker.
While it would have been interesting to see Smith and Chan team up in a movie at that period, Smith already has a successful buddy cop movie in his mantle with Bad Boys. Fans might also agree that the film may not have worked without Chan and Tucker's perfect chemistry.
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