At the end of the film, The Matrix, Neo (Keanu Reeves) is given the choice to save Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) from being killed by the Agents. Neo goes to the Agent and offers himself in place of Morpheus.
However, the Agent ultimately refuses Neo’s offer and releases Morpheus. This means that Neo technically “turned himself down” for acting as Morpheus’s sacrifice.
The Agent was programmed to do whatever was necessary to protect the System and the Matrix, and letting Morpheus live didn’t violate those orders. The Agents never gave Morpheus the choice to save Neo; they weren’t willing to let the human rebel be set free.
By refusing Neo’s offer, the Agent essentially turned him down and ensured Morpheus’ safety.
The exchange between Neo and the Agent was a crucial moment that changed the course of the Matrix universe, leading to Neo becoming “The One” and the eventual war against the Machines. Despite the dangers that threatened Morpheus, Neo chose to put himself on the line in an act of selfless, courageous love — putting the mission to defend Zion and save humanity before himself.
Who else auditioned for the role of Neo?
Prior to casting Keanu Reeves as Neo in The Matrix, there were several other actors who had auditioned and/or been considered for the role, including Will Smith, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt.
Other actors who auditioned included and Joaquin Phoenix, Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Edward Norton, and Will Friedle.
However, it was ultimately Keanu Reeves who directors The Wachowski’s wanted in the role, stating they felt he had “the perfect combination of intelligence, brutality, and the narcissism required by the role”, believing he had the right look and mix of intensity.
It has since been said that among the actors auditioning for the role of Neo, Reeves was the only one who could master the difficult choreography of the fight scenes.
Which actor turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix?
The iconic role of Neo in The Matrix was originally intended for Will Smith. However, Smith declined the role due to the reluctance of committing to the trilogy it was intended to turn into. After Smith decided not to take on the role, Warner Bros.
then set their sights on Tom Cruise – however, Cruise’s interest in the project eventually faded away. It was only then that the Wachowski sisters approached Keanu Reeves, who was interested and ultimately ended up taking the role.
Reeves proved to be the perfect choice, and his performance of Neo, and the film as a whole, has gone on to become one of the most iconic sci-fi cult classic films of all time.
Who was casted for Neo?
The lead character of the science fiction movie ‘The Matrix’, Neo, was played by Keanu Reeves. He was casted in the role in 1997, after the writers and producers Larry and Andy Wachowski saw his performance in the 1994 movie ‘Speed’.
Reeves, born in Beirut, Lebanon, had already had some success in Hollywood by that time, appearing in various TV shows and films including, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Dangerous Liaisons, Point Break and My Own Private Idaho.
However, his casting as Neo propelled his career to new heights, as the Matrix trilogy earned over 1. 6 billion at the box office and became one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.
Who was the first choice for Neo Matrix?
It has been widely reported that the original choice for the character Neo in the 1999 blockbuster movie The Matrix was renowned actor Will Smith. Smith was approached to play Neo but ultimately decided to turn down the role as he was busy shooting Wild Wild West at the time.
Smith has since expressed his regret at his decision stating that he made a mistake in not taking the part.
The role ultimately went to actor Keanu Reeves. At the time, Reeves had established himself as a successful actor but was not a household name. The Matrix became a breakout success and launched Reeves into superstardom.
He is now recognized as one of the most iconic actors of the 21st century.
Why didn t Will Smith play Neo?
Will Smith was originally approached to play the role of Neo in the movie The Matrix, however he decided to turn down the role. One possible reason that Will Smith passed on the role is because the shooting was set to take place in Australia, which would have meant that he would be away from his wife and children for too long.
In addition, the shooting schedule for The Matrix overlapped with the schedule for Smith’s other movie, Wild Wild West. Another possible reason for Smith’s refusal to play Neo is because he may have felt that the character was too similar to the character he played in Men in Black; the script for the Matrix was written shortly after the release of Men in Black.
Ultimately, Smith suggested that Keanu Reeves take the role, which he accepted.
Did Brad Pitt turn down Neo?
Yes, Brad Pitt did turn down the role of Neo in The Matrix. According to writer/director/producer Lilly Wachowski, Brad Pitt was offered the role but decided to pass on it due to a conflict with another project.
As a result, the role was then offered to Keanu Reeves, who famously went on to play Neo in the iconic Wachowski-directed trilogy. At the time, Pitt was making plans to star in Fight Club, another legendary film released in 1999, so he simply couldn’t make time for both projects.
Pitt commented several times over the years that he still views the decision of passing up the role as one of his biggest regrets.
Was anyone else considered for Neo in The Matrix?
Yes, several other actors were considered for the role of Neo in The Matrix. According to reports, Will Smith was the first actor to be offered the role, but he turned it down due to insufficient payment and scheduling conflicts.
The producers then approached Leonardo DiCaprio and 100 of his casting tapes were sent to the Wachowski sisters. However, they decided DiCaprio was too young for the role. After that, the sisters considered both Ewan McGregor and Joel Silver’s suggestion of Nicolas Cage, but ultimately opted not to cast him.
Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer and Skeet Ulrich were also considered, but again rejected. Finally, after auditioning over 200 actors, Keanu Reeves was ultimately casted for the role of Neo.
Why did Laurence Fishburne turn down the new Matrix?
Laurence Fishburne turned down the new Matrix because he felt that he had already played a major part in the creation and success of the franchise and felt it was time to allow other actors to take center stage.
After playing Morpheus in the first three films, he felt he was done with his part of the movies and no longer had any stories he wanted to tell within the universe. Fishburne also felt that the new films would take the franchise in a different direction than he originally envisioned and that it would be best for the new actors to take the films from there.
Why did Will Smith turn down The Matrix role?
Will Smith has explained in several interviews that the primary reason he passed on the role of Neo in The Matrix was because he just didn’t get the script. Smith felt he needed to be able to explain the concept of The Matrix to his then-teenage son Jaden so he could understand why his father was making the movie.
However, Smith struggled to do so which caused him to turn down the role. Additionally, Smith was unable to work within the tight time frame that the Wachowskis wanted for production, as he had to finish his work on the Wild Wild West movie before he could start The Matrix and he felt he couldn’t commit to the project.
Finally, Smith believed the role would not give him enough depth as an actor, feeling that Neo was not as complex a character as Morpheus—who was played by Laurence Fishburne.
What role did Madonna turn down in The Matrix?
Madonna was offered the role of the Nebuchadnezzar’s ship captain, Captain Niobe, in The Matrix. However, she reportedly turned down the part, citing that she didn’t feel that her body type was appropriate for the part.
Instead, the role went to Jada Pinkett Smith, who was widely praised for her portrayal of the character. Madonna’s unsuccessful audition reportedly inspired the Wachowskis to practically rewrite the character for a more muscular woman, as Smith very nearly didn’t fit the role as written.
While Madonna did not appear in the movie, her influence still had an impact in the world of The Matrix.
Why was Will Smith not taken out?
Will Smith was not taken out of the game because he was playing at a high level and was a key contributor to the team’s success. He had an impressive performance, completing 10 out of 12 passes and throwing a touchdown in the first quarter.
Additionally, he had a good chemistry with his receivers and was creating good plays on offense. His coach saw his potential and valued the consistency of his playmaking ability. Therefore, Will Smith was not taken out and continued playing for the team.
What did Will Smith take himself out of?
Will Smith took himself out of the running for a role in Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The actor had initially expressed interest in playing the part of a prominent 1960s Hollywood film producer, but ultimately decided against taking on the role.
After receiving the script, Smith decided that he didn’t “feel the creative connection” necessary to take on the role and felt it was best for him to bow out of the project. In his words, “I matter to this movie, so if I’m not right for it, then it’s not the right movie for me.
” Smith concluded by expressing his admiration for the director and his anticipation for the finished film.
Has the Academy ever revoked an Oscar?
Yes, the Academy has revoked an Oscar. On March 28, 2015, the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted to remove the honorary Oscar that had been bestowed upon actor and comedian Bill Cosby in recognition of his position in the entertainment industry.
This was the first time the Academy had ever revoked an Oscar, and it came in response to the numerous sexual assault allegations leveled against Cosby at the time. This also marked the first time the Academy had used a clause in its regulations that allowed for Oscars to be revoked.
Since then, no other Oscars have been revoked.
Was Will Smith forced to leave the academy?
No, Will Smith was not forced to leave the Academy. In 1989, Will Smith was nearly expelled from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, commonly known as the CAPA school, due to several recent absences and lateness.
Smith initially enrolled in the School as a sophomore hoping to learn more about music, but he eventually fell out of attendance due to the exhausting hours of the hit television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which he was cast in at the time.
Rather than expel Smith, CAPA allowed him to continue his studies at the school, albeit through independent study. Smith would often visit the teachers and discuss the progress of his studies and allowed the school to keep tabs on his progress.
He eventually graduated from CAPA, but not before providing financial support and resources to the school in order to ensure its long term success.