Will Smith Admits He Turned Down ‘Inception’ Role Because He Didn’t Understand the Plot

Will Smith, known for his roles in Emancipation, Men in Black, and The Pursuit of Happyness, recently shared that he turned down Christopher Nolan’s Inception because he couldn’t grasp what the film was trying to convey.

The actor was originally considered for the role of Dominic Cobb, the lead in the 2010 sci-fi blockbuster, a part eventually played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Confession in a Radio Interview

Speaking with UK radio station Kiss, as reported by Variety, Smith admitted, “I don’t think I’ve ever said it publicly, but I am going to say it because we are opening up to one another. Chris Nolan brought me Inception first, and I didn’t get it. I’ve never said that out loud.”

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 those, too.”

The plot of Inception revolves around Dominic Cobb, a professional thief who enters the dreams of others to steal secrets or plant new ideas. Despite the film’s eventual success, Smith couldn’t connect with the concept during the early discussions.

A Long List of Iconic Roles Declined

Smith’s revelation adds Inception to a growing list of high-profile roles he has declined over the years, which later became iconic in cinema history.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Christopher Nolan had first offered the lead role in Inception to Brad Pitt, giving him 48 hours to respond.

When Pitt did not commit, the offer was extended to Will Smith. After Smith turned it down, Leonardo DiCaprio was approached and took on the role.

Smith has similarly passed on other major films, including The Matrix, where he was initially offered the role of Neo. The character ultimately went to Keanu Reeves.

In a 2019 YouTube video, Smith explained that he did not connect with the Wachowskis’ pitch, which focused more on their directing technique than the plot.

Recalling the pitch, he said, “We’re thinking like… imagine you’re in a fight. You, like, jump. Imagine if you could stop jumping in the middle of the jump. But then, people could see around you 360 degrees while you stop jumping. We’re going to invent these cameras and then people can see the whole jump when you stop in the middle of the jump.”

Smith added in the recent interview, “It hurts too bad to talk about,” when reflecting on passing up the opportunity to star in The Matrix, which went on to become a global phenomenon.

Why He Passed on Django Unchained

Another significant role Smith declined was the lead in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. Tarantino had originally wanted Smith for the titular character, which eventually went to Jamie Foxx.

Smith revealed to GQ magazine that he turned down the role because he “didn’t want to make a slavery film about vengeance.”

Elaborating on his decision in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Smith said, “It was about the creative direction of the story. To me, it’s as perfect a story as you could ever want: a guy that learns how to kill to retrieve his wife that has been taken as a slave. That idea is perfect. And it was just that Quentin and I couldn’t see [eye to eye]. I wanted to make that movie so badly, but I felt the only way was, it had to be a love story, not a vengeance story.”

The Legacy of Inception and Missed Opportunities

Inception, which starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, and Elliot Page alongside DiCaprio, became one of Christopher Nolan’s most successful films, grossing $839 million worldwide. Smith’s potential involvement in the film was first reported months after its release.

While Smith acknowledged that turning down Inception was a missed opportunity, he seems more regretful about rejecting The Matrix, a role that launched an entire action franchise and transformed Keanu Reeves’ career.

In the end, Smith’s choices have left fans speculating about what could have been, especially considering the lasting impact these films have had on modern cinema.