Keanu Reeves has had extraordinary success with The Matrix, but he wasn’t the first choice: it’s the one who chose the production.
There are actors who will forever be remembered for playing an iconic role. Surely this is how it goes Keanu Reevesan actor with a respectable film career, but who many associate with Neo, chosen from the TV series The Matrix.
Through this role, Reeves earned a lot, both economically and in terms of fame. Nevertheless, this role could be another very famous actor, Hollywood sex symbol. That’s who was the first candidate for a role in a sci-fi film.
The Matrix Who Was Neo’s First Choice: An Incredible Choice
Despite the fact that about 24 years have passed since the release of the film, The Matrix is a cult science fiction genre. and many still love it. On the other hand, the film grossed a whopping $463 million and won four Oscars, which was an incredible start to Keanu Reeves’ career.
All this could not happen to the actor. Indeed, the original production he bet on another actor. WHO? The one who was the recognized star and sex symbol of the nineties: Brad Pitt.
That’s right, they wanted to entrust production the role of Neo for Brad Pitt, but the actor refused. Why? Well, he didn’t seem to understand the plot, and according to him, the film didn’t have high hopes for being a movie success. Indeed, Pitt thought it would be a failure and an unfortunate stop for his career. As the facts showed, the actor did not succeed.
However, he doesn’t seem to regret his choice. In fact, Pitt reportedly told Entertainment Weekly, “I took the red pill. I come from a place, maybe it’s my upbringing, where if you don’t take something, then it’s not really yours. Well, I guess that role was never mine. It was someone else’s.” The reference is clear to Keanu Reeves.
But what did Pitt mean when he said he “took the red pill”? This is a joke that refers to the iconic scene from The Matrix: Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne, proposes to Neo red pill or blue pill; with the first, Neo will wake up in reality, freed from the Matrix, with the second, he will remain in that fictional world.
Apparently, with this joke, Brad Pitt wanted to offer face the reality of giving up a very important role it would make him richer and help make his career great.