Will Smith may be choosing between the red and blue pill, but the Oscar-winning actor isn’t entering the Matrix for a movie. Warner Bros. previously announced a fifth “Matrix” installment ...

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.

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.

Smith has called the project a “thorn” in his side. Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum turned down “The Matrix” for the role.