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Will Smith Regrets Turning Down 'Inception' Role
31 Jul
Summary
- Will Smith declined the lead role in 'Inception' due to not understanding the script.
- Brad Pitt was also initially offered the part before Will Smith.
- Leonardo DiCaprio ultimately starred in the successful film 'Inception'.
Will Smith recently disclosed a significant career regret: turning down the lead role in Christopher Nolan's 2010 science fiction film 'Inception.' Smith admitted that he did not grasp the complex plot when it was first pitched to him. He shared this revelation with a laugh, noting that it hurt too much to discuss publicly.
This decision came after Nolan's directorial success with 'The Dark Knight.' The part of Cobb was initially offered to Brad Pitt, who also declined. It was then presented to Smith, who subsequently passed, leading to Leonardo DiCaprio being cast. 'Inception' went on to achieve considerable success, grossing over $800 million worldwide.
This is not the only major sci-fi role Smith has regretted not taking. He also discussed turning down 'The Matrix,' which he described as another painful career decision. Smith explained that in 2026, he did not understand the filmmakers' vision for 'The Matrix' during the pitch meeting. Instead, he opted to star in 'Wild Wild West,' which became a significant commercial failure.
