Created by the Wachowski siblings and starring Hollywood stars such as Keanu Reeves, Jada Pinkett Smith, Laurence Fishburne, and many others, The Matrix has become an iconic part of popular culture. The franchise presents a dystopian world where machines have taken over the world and suppressed humanity. While Reeves rules over The Matrix fans’ hearts as Neo, the role was initially offered to the Oscar-winning actor Will Smith.
However, he turned down the offer, and the John Wick star eventually became the face of the sci-fi franchise. Although Smith was not interested in the film, his wife had an idea that The Matrix would be revolutionary for the film industry, and she did join the franchise with the sequel to the 1999 film. However, that was not the first time she attempted to join the franchise, as she failed her audition for the first Matrix film.
Jada Pinkett Smith Lost Trinity’s Part in The Matrix
While Will Smith turned down the offer for the lead role in The Matrix franchise, his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, looked forward to joining the film. And she wanted to portray the role of Trinity in the 1999 film.
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, she recalled failing the audition due to the lack of chemistry between her and Keanu Reeves. She shared that she is still unable to figure out the reason behind their lack of chemistry, but they were not able to hit it off.
“I don’t think it was his fault. I think it was as much my fault as anybody. It wasn’t just Ke. it was me too,” the Girls’ Trip actress said. The makers later wrote a role, especially for Pinkett Smith, and she was introduced as Niobe in the sequel of the 1999 film, The Matrix Reloaded.
She portrayed the character for the upcoming sequels and was last seen in the fourth installment of the franchise, The Matrix Resurrection. Although she lost the part of the female lead in the franchise, Pinkett Smith shared that she and Reeves became good friends while working together.
Jada Pinkett Smith Praises Carrie-Anne Moss
The role that Jada Pinkett Smith auditioned for later went to the Canadian actress Carrie-Anne Moss. Trinity in The Matrix franchise is an operative of Zion, freed by Morpheus, and also the love interest of Neo. Anne Moss reprised her role in all the films under the franchise.
While the Scream 2 actress wanted the part for herself, she later explained that she couldn’t have been able to do what Anne Moss did with Trinity’s character. “I do wish [I had gotten the part], but I look at Carrie-Anne, and I just go, ‘she’s freaking amazing,” she shared. Pinkett Smith admitted that there is no way she could have presented the character as well as the New Blood actress did.
The Matrix franchise is available on HBO Max.
Source: The Things
