When ‘The Matrix’ hit theaters in 1999, it revolutionized science fiction filmmaking with its groundbreaking visual effects, ...

Laurence Fishburne hasn't seen Will Smith play Neo in the “Matrix”-inspired music video for Smith’s single “Beautiful Scars” with rapper Big Sean.

In any case, Smith and Kilmer aren’t the only casting near-misses from those early production days, when the many now-iconic elements of The Matrix were still mere matters of conjecture.

Laurence Fishburne hasn’t seen Will Smith play Neo in the “Matrix”-inspired music video for Smith’s single “Beautiful Scars” with rapper Big Sean.

1. Neo (Film: The Matrix) Almost Played By: Will Smith Ultimately Played By: Keanu Reeves It's hard to imagine anyone but Keanu Reeves as the stoic, leather-clad savior Neo, but the role was ...

Laurence Fishburne hasn’t seen Will Smith play Neo in the “Matrix”-inspired music video for Smith’s single “Beautiful Scars” with rapper Big Sean.