"In 1997," the post reads, "the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix. Smith turned it down. He chose Wild Wild West, believing it was a better fit for him at the time. But the question remains: what would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?"

Is this a glitch in the Matrix — or is Will Smith The One? On Monday, the Bad Boys star shared a cryptic message to his nearly 70 million Instagram followers, posting a clip that evokes a scene from 1999’s The Matrix.

Will Smith teased a new project as he referenced his decision to turn down the role of Neo in “The Matrix,” leading fans to speculate that the venture might be related to the sci-fi franchise.

Will Smith posted a cryptic video to Instagram teasing a potential part in the fifth Matrix movie currently in development

Will Smith sent Matrix fans into a frenzy on Monday morning (Jan. 6) when he shared an Instagram post that appeared to be teasing his role in the next installment of the popular film franchise. However,

It’s a known fact that before Keanu Reeves immortalised Neo on the big screen with the groundbreaking and genre-defining The Matrix in 1999, it was Will Smith who was first offered the role but he rejected it for Wild Wild West (1999).

Will Smith may be choosing between the red and blue pill, but the Oscar-winning actor isn’t entering The Matrix for a movie. Warner Bros. previously announced a fifth “Matrix” installment with “The Martian” screenwriter Drew Goddard attached to write and direct,