Actors Who Turned Down Big Roles
These 25 Actors Passed on the Role of a Lifetime, but Most of Them Didn't Regret It
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Keanu Reeves became a sci-fi icon with The Matrix, but the role of Neo almost went to another action star — Will Smith! He admitted in a 2004 Wired interview that he turned down the role after just not vibing with the pitch. "In the pitch, I just didn't see it. I watched Keanu's performance - and very rarely do I say this - but I would have messed it up. I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix. At that point I wasn't smart enough as an actor to let the movie be. Whereas Keanu was smart enough to just let it be. Let the movie and the director tell the story, and don't try and perform every moment."