Most recently, Will Smith really stirred up the rumor mill about a possible appearance in The Matrix 5. But it’s just a music video.
At the beginning of January 2025, fans suspected that Will Smith would appear in the upcoming fifth part of The Matrix. The reason for this was an Instagram post by the 56-year-old actor, which unmistakably alluded to the first part of the series.
After all, Will Smith was originally supposed to play the role of the main character Neo. Since he refused, the job went to Keanu Reeves at the time. A decision that Smith still regrets today.
But now it’s clear: Will Smith won’t be appearing in The Matrix 5, but will just be releasing a new song with Big Sean.
A singing Neo
What would The Matrix look like with Will Smith as Neo?
We won’t know the answer in a movie, but there is now a music video for Smith’s new song Beautiful Scars on YouTube.
In it, he wears Neo’s iconic long black coat and dodges bullets on a high-rise rooftop. You can watch the video here:
For a short time, industry journalist Germain Lussier also speculated on platform X (formerly Twitter) that Will Smith’s Instagram post could be an advertising gimmick. After all, the Super Bowl is coming up on February 9, 2025.
In the past, several Hollywood icons have appeared on camera for this occasion, referencing modern pop culture or allowing themselves a little fun.
Accordingly, his Instagram post is neither a joke nor does it involve Will Smith appearing in The Matrix 5. It’s just about a music video.
What we know so far about The Matrix 5
The film will be directed by Drew Goddard, who was already responsible for projects like The Cabin in the Woods or Bad Times at the El Royale.
Accordingly, the Wachowski sisters Lilly and Lana will not be returning for The Matrix 5. They wrote the scripts for the first three films and also sat in the director’s chair. In Matrix Resurrections, Lana took on these tasks alone.
A theatrical release and an official cast do not yet exist. It therefore remains to be seen whether old cast members such as Keanu Reeves or Laurence Fishburne will return.
Incidentally, Will Smith is said to be producing a project together with Michael Bay again after 21 years. The action movie Fast and Loose is about a man who wakes up in Tijuana with no memories at all. Bay was recently in final negotiations with Netflix. You can find out more about this in the article linked above.
