Jun 17, 2025 08:45 AM IST
He’s performed aliens, robots, and superheroes, however Will Smith simply revealed he mentioned no to one of many largest sci-fi films of all time
Think about Inception (2010)… however with Will Smith diving into dream ranges as a substitute of Leonardo DiCaprio. That alternate timeline virtually turned actuality. In a stunning revelation, Will Smith lately admitted that he was this near starring in Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending sci-fi epic. In a brand new interview with radio station Kiss Xtra, the actor opened up in regards to the main position he let slip away — and the remorse that got here with it.
“I don’t assume I’ve ever mentioned it publicly however I’m going to say it as a result of we’re opening as much as each other,” Smith mentioned. “Chris Nolan introduced me Inception first and I didn’t get it. I’ve by no means mentioned that out loud. Now that I give it some thought, it’s these films that go into these alternate realities… they don’t pitch effectively. However I’m damage by these, too.”
The 2010 movie finally turned considered one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s largest field workplace hits, incomes a large $839 million worldwide and cementing its place in sci-fi historical past. However as Smith revealed, it may’ve been him in that iconic spinning-top ending.
Apparently, Inception’s casting journey didn’t begin with Will both. In keeping with a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Brad Pitt was Nolan’s authentic first alternative. When that didn’t pan out, the provide went to Smith, who handed after not totally greedy the plot. Solely then did DiCaprio signal on and assist flip the movie into a world phenomenon.
Nonetheless, whereas lacking out on Inception would possibly sting, Smith admits there’s one position that haunts him much more: Neo in The Matrix (1999). That half, after all, went to Keanu Reeves and birthed one of the iconic motion franchises of all time. “It hurts too dangerous to speak about,” Smith mentioned about that one.
So whereas we bought DiCaprio in Inception and Reeves in The Matrix, it’s all the time enjoyable — and a bit heartbreaking — to think about what may have been had Will Smith been the one bending actuality on display screen.
