Will Smith teased his involvement in The Matrix 5, but if the sci-fi franchise does cast him in the leading role, it will repeat one of the most annoying parts of The Matrix Resurrections. Will Smith infamously turned down playing Neo in The Matrix early in his acting career, and the part obviously went to Keanu Reeves instead. Smith chose to film Wild Wild West instead, though he did get his major sci-fi franchise in the form of Men in Black. Still, it’s a career mistake that has haunted Smith for decades, and it may now be time for him to rectify it.

https://screenrant.com/the-matrix-5-will-smith-casting-meta-resurrections-op-ed/