NEED TO KNOW
Will Smith may have been just as confused reading the script for Inception as many of us watching it for the first time.
In a recent interview with radio station Kiss Xtra, the 56-year-old actor revealed that while writer-director Christopher Nolan originally eyed him for the lead role in his 2010 sci-fi heist flick (which eventually went to Leonardo DiCaprio), he didn’t really grasp the plot.
“I don’t think I’ve ever even said it publicly before, and I’m gonna say it because we are opening up to one another: Chris Nolan brought me Inception first, and I didn’t get it,” Smith told the interviewer. “I’ve never said that out loud.”
Of passing on both Inception and 1999’s The Matrix, he added, “Now that I think about it, it’s those movies that go into those alternate realities — they don’t pitch well.”
“But I am hurt by [passing on] those two,” Smith admitted.
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Inception starred DiCaprio as the mind-infiltrating Dom Cobb, and featured a head-scratching ending — as well as a star-studded supporting cast including Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Michael Caine.
According to a November 2010 article from The Hollywood Reporter, citing sources, the lead role of Dom was originally offered to Brad Pitt, who didn’t commit in time — leading Nolan, 54, to bring it to Smith, then ultimately, DiCaprio, 50.
Despite missing out on some big roles, Smith certainly has no shortage of box-office hits under his belt, like Independence Day (1996), Men in Black (1997), Suicide Squad (2016) and Aladdin (2019).
And although the 2022 Academy Awards perhaps are most remembered for Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face on stage, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum took home a Best Actor trophy that year for his lead performance in King Richard, marking his first-ever Oscar win.
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Smith has slowly made his way back into film following the Oscars slap controversy, with roles in 2022’s Emancipation and 2024’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Back in April, the actor made a joint Instagram post with his longtime Bad Boys costar Martin Lawrence, director Michael Bay and the franchise’s official account, marking the 30th anniversary of the hit action franchise’s first film.
Smith included several behind-the-scenes photos from the original movie, including pictures alongside Lawrence, 60, as they smiled with one another on set. He also added photos of Bay, 60, and Bad Boys producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
“30 years ago @jerrybruckheimer, Don Simpson and @michaelbay took a chance on us and Bad Boys was born!” the caption read. “Grateful for all the love y’all have shown us thru the years 👊🏾.”
