"I Didn't Get It, Man": Will Smith's Regrettable Refusal of "Inception"
Smith declined the opportunity to star in "Inception".
Will Smith seems to be haunted by a past decision - turning down the lead role in the mind-bending sci-fi hit "Inception". In a candid chat, the 56-year-old actor admitted he passed on Christopher Nolan's blockbuster masterpiece, and it's eating him up inside.
Throughout his lengthy Hollywood career, Will Smith has graced us with numerous Box Office champions. But it seems fame has its pitfalls, with missed opportunities lurking in the shadows. During a radio interview, Smith confessed that he was supposed to dive head-first into the dizzying labyrinth of "Inception". Leonardo DiCaprio ended up scoring the acclaim instead, leaving Smith to ponder what might have been.
"I ain't never said this, but fuck it," Smith began, according to "Variety". "Chris Nolan offered me 'Inception' - and at the time, bro, I didn't get it. I mean, I straight up didn't understand that complex shit. Damn near dropped the ball on a billion-dollar movie!" he added.
"Inception", with its mind-bending plot and multiple realities, grossed around $840 million globally, proving that even the most arduous landscapes can breed Box Office gold. For DiCaprio, the film ranks second only to "Titanic" in his illustrious career.
Steering Clear of Uncharted Waters
Smith has had his fair share of career regrets, and "Inception" is just one of them. In 1999, he turned down the titular role in "The Matrix" to star in the infamous flop "Wild Wild West". Keanu Reeves emerged as the unlikely hero of the first Matrix film, catapulting himself to stardom.
Interestingly, Smith once declined an offer from cult director Quentin Tarantino. The director wanted Smith to play the lead in "Django Unchained". Smith's rejection wasn't due to a sudden bout of Westernophobia - no, he found issue with the character portrayal. Ultimately, Jamie Foxx donned the spurs and eventually won two Oscars for his role, with the film scoring Best Picture among its five nominations.
Sources: ntv.de, vpr/spot, Variety
- Will Smith
- Hollywood
- Blockbusters
[1] ntv.de, vpr/spot, (2023). Will Smith once turned down 'Inception' role. [online] Available at: https://www.ntv.de/kultur/will-smith-habt-inception-rolle-abgeschlagen-article262015015.html
[2] Box Office Mojo. (2023). Inception (2010). [online] Available at: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inception.htm
[3] Variety. (2023). Will Smith Reminds Us Why He Turned Down 'Inception'. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/will-smith-inception-christopher-nolan-1234841896/
[4] IMDb. (2023). The Matrix (1999). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/
[5] IMDb. (2023). Django Unchained (2012). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1827634/
"Despite his successful history in 'movies-and-tv' and 'entertainment', Will Smith expressed regret over turning down the lead role in Christopher Nolan's 'Inception', stating, 'I'm not going to be a big fan of your show.'"
"Another missed opportunity in Smith's career was his decision to decline Quentin Tarantino's offer for 'Django Unchained', a role eventually played by Jamie Foxx."
