The Matrix, a landmark of sci-fi cinema, launched Keanu Reeves into global stardom as Neo, but the Keanu Reeves Matrix casting nearly looked very different. Before Reeves’ quietly intense performance defined the iconic role, the Wachowskis and Warner Bros. had a remarkably varied shortlist of possible leads. Several major Hollywood names, each with their own style and personal magnetism, were considered for the part that ultimately became inextricably linked with Reeves and the franchise’s legacy.
Today, it is difficult to imagine anyone else wearing Neo’s black coat and sunglasses. Yet, the alternate casting history offers a fascinating glimpse into how much the film’s direction, tone, and even cultural impact could have shifted. Here are seven stars who, at one point or another, were nearly chosen to lead The Matrix—and how each would have changed the now-classic story.
Will Smith: The Blockbuster Favorite
Among all the names that circled the Keanu Reeves Matrix casting process, Will Smith stands out as a top contender. By the late 1990s, Smith was Hollywood royalty, credited with back-to-back blockbusters including Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men in Black, and Enemy of the State. His involvement was seen by Warner Bros. as a way to guarantee commercial success for a risky franchise. Studio executives saw Smith’s star power as the perfect anchor for their big-budget sci-fi gamble.
However, Smith later explained that he didn’t comprehend the film’s concept after reading the script. Even the pioneering bullet-time sequence—now synonymous with The Matrix—couldn’t persuade him. He ultimately declined the role to star in Wild Wild West, an infamous misstep he’s famously candid about. Had Smith accepted, Neo would have radiated far more outward charisma, and The One could have become a more traditionally energetic and extroverted hero, altering the philosophical and contemplative heart Reeves brought. With Smith as Neo, the franchise might have been more action-heavy and lively, but probably less ambiguous and haunting.
Val Kilmer: The Stoic Alternative
Val Kilmer’s possible involvement is often considered a wildcard in the Keanu Reeves Matrix casting lore, yet the reasoning reveals much about the process. The studio was searching for a lead who could set the film’s tone before final decisions about the script and supporting cast were even made. Kilmer’s screen presence is innately guarded and taciturn; he often portrays characters who reveal little and remain unreadable.
There are conflicting accounts of what roles Kilmer was considered for—Neo, Morpheus, or potentially even both, depending on casting combinations. Sources indicate he declined involvement, selecting another film project instead. Had Kilmer led, Neo’s gradual transformation from lost everyman to awakened hero may have been undermined by his natural composure. Kilmer’s Neo might have shown less emotional vulnerability and a more standoffish demeanor, weakening the mentor-student bond with Morpheus and resulting in a colder, more rigid—and potentially less compelling—protagonist.
Nicolas Cage: The Wild Card Performer
Nicolas Cage represents a striking departure from the restrained approach brought by Keanu Reeves to The Matrix. Known for his intense, sometimes unpredictable energy, Cage’s version of Neo would likely have been anything but ordinary. Even at his most subdued, Cage rarely disappears into mundane roles; his emotional volatility can seep through the most even scripts.
If cast, Cage’s Neo probably would have played Thomas Anderson as someone already fraying at the edges, introducing a dramatic restlessness from the very beginning. The audience would have witnessed a hero for whom chaos wasn’t something to discover, but a state he lived in from the start. This reimagining could have led to a more disorienting and frenetic movie, marked by erratic existential outbursts. However, Cage declined the part due to not wanting to spend extensive time away in Australia, citing family priorities. His presence would have turned Neo’s journey from a measured awakening into something akin to combustion—a fascinating prospect, but perhaps too far afield from what made The Matrix iconic.
Brad Pitt: The Reluctant Superstar
Brad Pitt’s place in the casting conversation rings true for those familiar with his 1990s ascent in Hollywood, from Interview with the Vampire to Se7en, Fight Club, and 12 Monkeys. Reports indicate that Pitt turned the opportunity down, feeling instinctively that the role was not his. Pitt excelled at roles where his innate star presence and sharp charisma are integral from the outset, but Neo was conceived as an invisible everyman plucked from mediocrity.
Had Pitt accepted, his commanding presence might have overshadowed the transformation essential to Neo’s arc. He would have lent the character a natural coolness and polish more suited to traditional movie heroes, diluting the introspective and questioning spirit crucial to The Matrix’s opening act. Pitt himself has reflected that the offer came only once, and he never felt compelled to pursue it. A Pitt-led Matrix could have become just another blockbuster, rather than the genre-defining phenomenon it became with Reeves.
Leonardo DiCaprio: The Intense Contender
Leonardo DiCaprio, hot off the worldwide acclaim of Titanic, was another major player in the running for Neo. DiCaprio ultimately walked away from the sci-fi epic, citing fatigue from large-scale productions and concerns about the movie’s emphasis on visual effects over character drama. His specialty lies in channeling intensity, internal struggle, and emotional uncertainty—traits that might have rendered Neo’s journey more overtly dramatic and tragic.
With DiCaprio at the center, Neo’s progression may have taken on heavier, more anguished notes, echoing performances found in his other work. The arc of a background figure stepping into heroic myth would have been compromised, as DiCaprio’s undeniable screen presence makes it difficult for audiences to see him as an unremarkable office worker lost in a faceless crowd. His approach would have placed emotional suffering and self-doubt at the forefront, pushing the film towards weightier drama and away from the enigmatic subtlety that became its signature.
Sandra Bullock: The Groundbreaking Possibility
Surprisingly, the history of Keanu Reeves Matrix casting includes serious consideration of Sandra Bullock as Neo, a detail unfamiliar to many fans. Amidst mounting pressure to find a leading actor, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and the studio even entertained rewriting Neo as a female character so Bullock could play the part. The script revision would have represented a seismic shift, not only in character dynamics but in cinema history, given how few female-led blockbusters existed at the time.
Bullock’s inherent likeability, warmth, and grounded persona would have radically changed Neo’s characterization. She likely would have imbued The One with more emotional openness and empathy, changing the on-screen chemistry with Morpheus and Trinity as well. Rather than a hesitant anti-hero, Neo might have been portrayed as accessible and compassionate, shifting the entire feel and focus of the story. Talks with Bullock fizzled out when she passed on the opportunity, perhaps sensing the enormous risks and changes required. Had this casting occurred, it would have not only upended the film but potentially altered the wider conversation around action franchises and female leads for years to come.
Johnny Depp: The Original Vision
Among the most fascinating revelations is that Johnny Depp was reportedly the Wachowskis’ first choice for Neo. During the 1990s, Depp was celebrated for his performances in films like Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Donnie Brasco, and Ed Wood, earning a reputation as the king of unconventional, introspective characters. Depp embodied a kind of outsider mystique, which likely resonated with the film’s themes of disconnection and awakening within an artificial reality.
Although reports vary, it appears Depp was formally offered the role, but Warner Bros. harbored doubts and ultimately vetoed his casting. If Depp had led The Matrix, he may have played Neo as a reflective anti-hero, steering the character towards even greater surrealism and emotional ambiguity. His approach could have drawn out the philosophical heart of the story, pushing the film further into metaphysical territory. Depp’s subtle vulnerability might have created a darker, more artistically slanted version of Neo. Still, whether this vision would have resonated with audiences as powerfully as Reeves’ understated performance remains an open question lost to Hollywood “what ifs.”
The Defining Choice and Enduring Legacy
Looking back, the Keanu Reeves Matrix casting journey reveals how much a single performance can shape—not only a character, but an entire saga and even the expectations of a cinematic era. The names considered for Neo—Will Smith, Val Kilmer, Nicolas Cage, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, and Johnny Depp—reflect an industry in search of both box office certainty and artistic identity. Each actor would have steered The Matrix’s protagonist toward an entirely different fate, from bold and brash to haunted and offbeat.
The film’s ultimate selection of Reeves, with his muted physicality and grounded introspection, ensured the role of Neo could anchor the audience’s journey from confusion to revelation, helping the story’s philosophical undertones resonate worldwide. While it’s fascinating to imagine the alternate universes conjured by each possible lead, it’s Reeves’ unique balance of humility and strength that became a touchstone for a generation. In the end, the casting of Neo stands as a reminder that sometimes, the less obvious choice makes cinematic history.
“20 Years Ago, The Matrix Got an Entirely New Ending That Many People Missed”
—ComicBook.com
