Will Smith has revisited a missed opportunity by recreating an iconic movie scene he once turned down. Despite a successful career with hits like Men in Black and King Richard, the 56-year-old Oscar winner's decision to pass on a leading role in one of the most acclaimed sci-fi series ever has left fans astounded. Now, Smith has finally stepped into the shoes of the character he rejected for a music video. The actor, who declined the part that eventually went to Keanu Reeves, appeared as the legendary Neo from The Matrix in Big Sean's song Beautiful Scars.

However, fans weren't exactly thrilled to see Smith take on the role he previously passed up for Wild Wild West, a western featuring Kevin Kline. One film enthusiast commented on X: "This is more embarrassing to me than The Slap. I can no longer stand with him. My man is WASHED. It's OVER.". "The Slap," refers to the controversial incident at the Academy Awards where Smith slapped host Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia. Another user added: "Thank God he turned it [The Matrix] down.".

Instead of applauding Smith's portrayal of Neo, fans seemed relieved that the role ultimately went to action star Reeves. The John Wick and Constantine actor has received heaps of praise from fans, with some humorously suggesting he should recreate some famous scenes from Wild Wild West. Reeves went on to play Neo in four of The Matrix live action films and also appeared briefly in The Animatrix, a series of short animated stories released after the trilogy of films.

Users online had quite the laugh, with one jesting: "Now we need Keanu to recreate scenes from Wild Wild West." Meanwhile, another expressed gratitude for how things turned out, saying: "Thank you Will for turning down that role, Keanu ended up being the perfect fit.". Some users also looked positively on Smith's portrayal as Neo, with a user commenting: "It looks cool. It doesn't hold a candle to Neo's moves, but still cool." Others dwelled on Smith's choice to lead in Wild Wild West, the 1999 comedy which didn't quite hit the mark at the box office.

One fan shared: "From the bottom of my heart. Thank you for turning the role down. Sincerely, Matrix Fans P.S I enjoyed Wild Wild West. I have fond memories watching it as a kid. So thank you for choosing that movie instead as well. Win-win all around.". Smith has openly criticised Wild Wild West, branding it a regrettable part of his filmography. In a pre-Oscar win interview, when prompted about his best and worst movies, Smith conceded his distaste for this particular work, confessing: "The worst? I don't know, 'Wild Wild West' is a thorn in my side. To see myself in chaps... I don't like it.".