Is Will Smith finally joining The Matrix franchise? His cryptic Instagram post says so

"Wake up, Will… The Matrix has you." The latest Will Smith’s post on Instagram set the internet on fire. For a second (no, actually, for some hours), we thought we were finally going to see the actor step into the Matrix universe. But nope, hold your horses. Smith’s cryptic post sent fans into overdrive, but as it turns out, it could be other things than what we expected.

At least so far, it seems he's not set to appear in The Matrix reboot.

Back to the past: Will Smith and the role of Neo that could’ve been

Flashback to 1997: Will Smith was offered the role of Neo in The Matrix. Imagine the alternate timeline where Smith, not Keanu Reeves, was the one dodging bullets and giving us the red pill.

It was a decision that shook Hollywood history. Smith turned the role down, choosing Wild Wild West over the mind-bending world of The Matrix. A bold move, but who can blame him? For some, the idea of Will Smith as the one who would save humanity in a dystopian future feels like a lost dream, an alternate reality where the world of The Matrix could’ve been a lot more… fresh prince.

For others, there's no way we could see another actor playing this iconic role. So, what would The Matrix have looked like with Smith in the lead? Maybe we’ll never know, but the ‘what if’ still haunts many of Will Smith's fans.

According to The Hollywood Reporter Aaron Couch, though, he will not star in the new Matrix movie.

In fact, it’s hard not to imagine how Smith, looking exactly like he did in Wild Wild West, clad in his leather jacket, sunglasses, and riding a motorcycle (as seen in the iconic scene from the film), would’ve looked stepping into the shoes of Neo. His action-packed persona could have brought a very different energy to the movie, but maybe it’s for the best that Keanu took the role.

The mysterious post: Could Will Smith be back in the Matrix universe?

So, here we are again, watching Smith’s latest Instagram post. We still have the iconic Keanu-Neo. Could fans finally get a Will Smith-Neo version in a reboot? Fans immediately started speculating. Would Smith be taking a new role in the Matrix saga? A cameo? A surprise sequel?

The mystery deepens as we try to connect the dots. But here’s the twist: while the excitement is palpable, it’s not quite what we thought. The post, as it turns out, is more likely a teaser for a Matrix Super Bowl commercial. A commercial. Talk about a plot twist.

Now, it looks like Will Smith won’t be part of the new film, and that the Instagram post was just a teaser for something much smaller, like a Super Bowl commercial. While that might not sound as groundbreaking as a full-on film role, the mystery still lingers, keeping the Matrix buzz alive. Was Smith simply trying to make us think the impossible?

So, the big update is: No, it seems Will Smith will not star in the Matrix movie… but what’s he teasing? In a world full of Matrix conspiracies, the big update arrived. It is speculation, however. Will Smith is allegedly not starring in the upcoming Matrix film directed by Drew Goddard. The speculations have been squashed, but that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of Smith in the Matrix conversation.

Fans are now connecting the dots that this post might just be teasing a commercial, possibly one of those epic Super Bowl spots that bring us a touch of nostalgia. Will Smith won’t be dodging bullets this time around, but a Matrix commercial might just be the next best thing. After all, nothing says "mind-bending" quite like a surreal commercial, right?

This news might not be the big-screen moment his fans were hoping for, but it does keep the Matrix flame alive. Are the doors for this possibility closed? It’s hard not to keep expecting a surprise, especially when Smith’s post got people’s hopes up.

Conclusion: The Matrix, Will Smith, and the never-ending mystery

So, here we are, caught in the same Matrix paradox. It seems Will Smith isn’t stepping into Neo’s shoes, but that doesn’t mean the mystery is over. What we learned today is that The Matrix still knows how to keep us on our toes. Whether it’s a post, a commercial, or something even weirder.

While some actually ask why another Matrix movie, while others comment there is no Matrix without Keanu Reeves, the question remains: Is there more to this story than meets the eye? One thing’s for sure: The Matrix always has a way of making us question everything. Even a simple Instagram post.