Will Smith is by far the most iconic and versatile actor in Hollywood. The actor has captivated the audience with his charismatic and inescapable on-screen presence. The actor has starred in dozens of blockbuster, comedy-caustic, and thrilling movies featuring over-the-top action, intriguing plots, and catchy to-the-point dialogues.
The extraordinary skills he showcased while depicting his characters have enabled him to showcase his true cinematic talent. Smith has committed his fair share of mistakes in his career and rejected several monumental and fascinating projects like the 2001 American live-action/animated action comedy film Osmosis Jones. The Bad Boy star was initially offered the role of Frank DeTorri in the flick, played by legendary actor Bill Murray. However, due to scheduling issues, the actor dropped the project.
Will Smith Nearly Replaced Bill Murray as Frank DeTorri in Osmosis Jones
Will Smith is one of the most successful and bankable actors in Hollywood. Smith has built a rich filmography by showcasing his unmatched skills on the silver screen. The actor has achieved enormous success in his career and has established himself as an A-list star. Smith has led a triumphant career.
Nevertheless, his shocking antics during the 2022 Oscars in front of the live audience of the star-studded event left him mortified, as before receiving his Academy Award for his performance in the 2021 American biographical sports drama King Richard, the actor went on stage and smacked comedian Chris Rock.
Like any actor, the Men in Black movie star has rejected a couple of movies and roles in his career. The 2001 American live-action/animated action comedy film Osmosis Jones starring Chris Rock and Bill Murray, was also set to feature him as Frank DeTorri, played by Murray. The project was a commercial failure, grossing only $14 million against the budget of $70 million.
Will Smith Turned Down The Matrix Franchise
Hollywood legend Will Smith has turned down many monumental projects, like The Matrix franchise. In a candid interview, the Academy Award-winning star once revealed that he dropped the Keanu Reeves-led lucrative American cyberpunk action-packed film series only to regret it later. He shared,
“The Matrix is exactly, what they pitched, but they were designing those cameras to get those freeze-frames, and I was like, ‘If that doesn’t work, the movie looks ridiculous. I didn’t feel comfortable with the level of importance placed on that effect working properly. That’s probably the only one that I turned down that I shouldn’t have, but when you see somebody do it like, Keanu, you think, ‘Thank God.’”
Will Smith has worked with top-tier directors and successfully led many big-budgeted movies like Suicide Squad, Hancock, Men in Black, and I Am Legend.