Will Smith may be entering The Matrix.
At least, that’s what the Oscar winner hinted at in a mysterious video posted on social media Jan. 6, which addressed his decision to turn down the lead role in the blockbuster franchise created by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.
“In 1997, the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix,” read a message displayed in the clip posted on Will’s Instagram page. “Smith turned it down. He chose Wild Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time. But the question remains: What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?”
“Wake up, Will…” the video continued. “The Matrix has you…”
But don’t get too excited just yet, because although Warner Bros. announced a new Matrix movie was in development in April 2024, the Bad Boys star is not currently involved in the franchise, sources told Variety.
E! News has reached out to Warner Bros. Pictures as well as a rep for Will but has not heard back.
The original sci-fi action movie, released in 1999, starred Keanu Reeves as protagonist Neo, a computer programmer who is prophesied as “The One” to liberate humanity from the machines controlling the Matrix. Its success spawned three sequels: 2003’s The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as well as 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections.
Will previously explained his decision not to take the role—which was also offered to Keanu’s Speed costar Sandra Bullock—revealing he simply didn’t get the concept proposed to him at the time.
“After we made Men in Black, the Wachowskis came in, and they had only done one movie,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel in 2019. “As it turns out, they're geniuses, but there's a fine line in a pitch meeting between a genius and what I experienced in the meeting.”
Despite the film’s success—or, perhaps, because of it—Will defended his decision to turn down the role.
“Keanu was perfect, Laurence Fishburne was perfect,” he declared. “I probably would’ve messed The Matrix up. I would’ve ruined it. So I did y’all a favor!”
While you wait for more details on the fifth Matrix movie, keep reading to see other new and upcoming movie releases.
Snow White - March 21, 2025
Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot star in a live-action musical reimagining of the Disney classic.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Ash - March 21, 2025
When a woman (Eiza González) wakes up on a mysterious planet and finds the crew of her space station slaughtered, she must decide if she can trust the man (Aaron Paul) sent to rescue her.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Holland - March 27, 2025
Nicole Kidman headlines this thriller about a homemaker whose picture-perfect life in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan tumbles into a twisted tale.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Death of a Unicorn - March 28, 2025
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd star in this wild comedy about a father and daughter who accidentally hit a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip - March 28, 2025
This comedy starring Eva Longoria follows 11-year-old Alexander and his family as they embark on a Spring Break vacation to Mexico City only to have all their plans go terribly wrong when they discover a cursed idol.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Disney+
The Ballad of Wallis Island - March 28, 2025
Carey Mulligan stars in this charming comedy about a millionaire who arranges for his favorite musical duo (who also happen to be estranged lovers) to reunite and play a gig at his home on a remote island.
Where to Watch: In theaters
A Minecraft Movie - April 4, 2025
A live-action adaptation of the best-selling video game of all time, starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Warfare - April 11, 2025
This hard-hitting drama follows a platoon of American Navy SEALs during the Iraq War. Starring Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn, Noah Centineo and more.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Drop - April 11, 2025
A widowed mother (The White Lotus' Meghann Fahy) on her first date in years is terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Sinners - April 18, 2025
Michael B. Jordan reunites with his Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler on this tale of twin brothers who return to their hometown, only to discover an evil force waiting to welcome them back.
Where to Watch: In theaters
The Wedding Banquet - April 18, 2025
A reimagining of Ang Lee's 1993 romantic comedy, starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran.
Where to Watch: In theaters
On Swift Horses - April 25, 2025
Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Will Poulter star in this romantic drama, adapted from Shannon Pufahl's novel of the same name.
Where to Watch: In theaters
The Accountant 2 - April 25, 2025
Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal return in this sequel to the 2016 action thriller.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Another Simple Favor - May 1, 2025
Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reunite for this highly anticipated follow-up to director Paul Feig's 2018 black comedy.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Thunderbolts - May 2, 2025
This latest Marvel superhero entry follows "the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits" and stars Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Sebastian Stan.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Hurry Up Tomorrow - May 16, 2025
Based on The Weeknd's studio album of the same name, this psychological thriller stars the singer as a musician plagued by insomnia. Also starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan.
Final Destination Bloodlines - May 16, 2025
The newest chapter in the iconic horror franchise takes audiences back to the very beginning of Death's twisted sense of justice.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Lilo & Stitch - May 23, 2025
A live-action reimagining of Disney’s 2002 animated classic about a lonely Hawaiian girl and the mischievous alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - May 23, 2025
Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt for the eighth (and possibly last?) installment of the explosive action franchise.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Karate Kid: Legends - May 30, 2025
When a troubled young kung fu prodigy enters a karate competition, he enlists the help of Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to merge their two styles inot one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.
Where to Watch: In theaters
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina - June 6, 2025
Ana de Armas steps into the criminal underworld of John Wick as a trainee assassin seeking revenge.
Where to Watch: In theaters
How to Train Your Dragon - June 13, 2025
The beloved animated franchise get the live-action treatment, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with cutting-edge visual effects.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Elio - June 20, 2025
When space fanatic Elio is beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide, and mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader, he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms to prevent a crisis of intergalactic proportions.
Where to Watch: In theaters
28 Years Later - June 20, 2025
Set in the terrifying world created by 2002's 28 Days Later, this zombie sequel stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes as a group of survivors who have found a way to exist amidst the infected.
Where to Watch: In theaters
F1 - June 27, 2025
Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Javier Bardem get behind the wheel in this high-octane action flick about a struggling Formula 1 team.
Where to Watch: In theaters
M3GAN 2.0 - June 27, 2025
Everyone's favorite murderous dancing robot doll returns for more A.I. mayhem.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Jurassic World Rebirth - July 2, 2025
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, this action-packed new chapter of the dino franchise sees an extraction team race to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park, inhabited by the worst of the worst that were left behind.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Superman - July 11, 2025
Director James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe. Starring David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
Where to Watch: In theaters
I Know What You Did Last Summer - July 18, 2025
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their roles from the iconic 1997 teen slasher, as history repeats itself and a new batch of friends are stalked by a killer after a deadly car accident.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Smurfs - July 18, 2025
Rihanna leads an all-star voice cast in this animated musical that sees Smurfette and her pals venture into the real world to save Papa Smurf.
Where to Watch: In theaters