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Sandra Bullock was offered Neo before Keanu

posted 5 years ago by bozo_500 (12165)
18 replies | jump to latest

Interesting new article. Didn't know Bullock was offered Neo
https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/makers-matrix-offered-sandra-bullock-role-neo-keanu-reeves-095701633.html
Also Pitt agreed to be Neo before Keanu (guess Pitt was bigger name than Keanu back then as post Speed Keanu was going from bomb to bomb) but then dropped out as he was too tired after 7Years in Tibet,.. wow how gutting must thatve been to then see The Matrix go on to be this critically acclaimed huge hit .. like another Blade Runner but hugely successful (Its strange to thing of anyone other than Keanu as he has that almost 'anime' look to him that The Matrix was heavily influenced by - still I guess the same could've been for Bullock and Pitt)

Also Arnie or Michael Douglas as Morphous?

I guess alot of stars offered roles turned it down as the directors weren't that known only for Bound and the script sounded something like Johnny Memonic 2

[–] Ace_Spade (9334) 5 years ago

Yeah, I heard the Bullock thing recently, too.

I don't know how most of them feel about it. It might've stung a bit, but Pitt was making Fight Club in '99, which was a pretty big cultural touchstone, so I kinda doubt he's that busted up about it. Bullock, too, has an Oscar and whatnot. They all probably feel the same way about the film that Will Smith felt. I read an interview somewhere where they asked Smith if he regretted doing the Matrix and he basically said that he sort of did, but he knows he'd have been wrong for the flick and it wouldn't have worked.

I could see Pitt in the role, but most of the other choices? No.

[–] bozo_500 (12165) 5 years ago

That's true about Pitt with Fight Club (which was sort of dealing with similar themes/ideas as The Matrix) as FC was a 'cult' movie like a 'Blade Runner' (but obviously like that didn't have the huge box office success of The Matrix) so he's probably happy artistically with that.. and he didn't have to appear in the disappointing sequels (think hed have been doing Troy when the Matrix sequels were being filmed) but maybe regrets missing out on the 200m or whatever it was KR made on the trilogy lol

[–] Ace_Spade (9334) 5 years ago

I mean, it's all just pure speculation. Maybe he wishes he had that cash, but I somehow doubt it. He makes millions of dollars per movie, he's had some mega hits. He was already pretty famous by the time Fight Club was coming out. I have a feeling that his being artistically satisfied by Fight Club was more important, especially long-term. So, did he feel a small twinge after The Matrix made rude money? Maybe? Maybe a little, anyway. But that's probably just something you get used to as a Hollywood actor - you pick parts, pass on parts, get passed over for parts - you can't get hung up on that stuff. I'd bet, though, that by now it's not really keeping him up at night.

[–] bozo_500 (12165) 5 years ago

looking at both net worth - Keanu 360m. Brad 300m so yeh I guess when get to those figure who cares lol (had Pitt been in Matrix maybe his net worth prob be about 400-500m and Keanu 100ish)

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

Pitt is still a bigger name than Keanu, no? I had no idea that he or Bullock were offered the part. I do recall Will Smith. I think any of them would have done a great job.

While I like Arnold and Michael Douglas, I really can't imagine anyone other than Fishburne as Morpheus.

[–] alienzen (1929) 2 years ago

No, Keanu Reeves is a bigger star today than Pitt. He has had the John Wick movies. Brad Pitt hasn't had a hit in 15 years.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 5 years ago

Lucky for all of those people that they still went on to have huge A-list careers. If anything, sadly, the ones to have had the worst drop-off since The Matrix were its creators, the Wachowskis

My favorite what-if Hollywood story might be that of Josh Hartnett. Supposedly he was offered the roles of Spider-Man, Superman, AND Batman, but he turned them all down because he didn't want to be end up being pigeonholed as "the guy from that franchise"

Too bad that Batman Begins was the beginning of one of the most influential series in history. Imagine a Dark Knight with Josh Hartnett and Heath Ledger, a battle of two early-2000s heartthrob pretty boys, but in a gritty action-drama

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

Too bad that Batman Begins was the beginning of one of the most influential series in history. Imagine a Dark Knight with Josh Hartnett and Heath Ledger, a battle of two early-2000s heartthrob pretty boys, but in a gritty action-drama

Would have been fantastic haha

[–] WrepDrep (322) 2 years ago

Prettyboy Josh Hartnett as Peter Parker, Spiderman?
I don't think you know how Peter Parker is supposed to be.
Even Andrew Garfield wasn't dorky enough to be Peter Parker.

Nah, I'm glad we didn't get to see Hartnett ruin Batman or Spiderman franchises.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 2 years ago

The "what if" is not about seeing him play Peter Parker. If I wanted to know what a bland actor looks like playing Peter Parker I can just watch Tom Holland

The "what if" is seeing an actor who flushed megastardom down the toilet after passing up some of the biggest roles since of the 2000s and how different things would have turned out

[–] bozo_500 (12165) 5 years ago

LOL just saw this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm2szuXKgL8

[–] Cognoscente (2463) 2 years ago

The decision to cast her symbolizes how the Wachowskis became sisters.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 2 years ago

The movie still would have worked with Pitt as the lead.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (10260) 2 years ago

Accuse me of misogyny. I don't care. But Sandra Bullock would have been insufferable in that role!

Keanu Reeves may not be the best actor. But Neo is seriously a male role.

Brad Pitt would have overacted it.

[–] Redsfan001 (6003) 2 years ago

The "copper top" line would have worked better, but it's hard to imagine this film without Keanu.