Will Smith may be entering The Matrix.
At least, that’s what the Oscar winner hinted at in a mysterious video posted on social media Jan. 6, which addressed his decision to turn down the lead role in the blockbuster franchise created by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.
“In 1997, the Wachowskis offered Will Smith the role of Neo in The Matrix,” read a message displayed in the clip posted on Will’s Instagram page. “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?”
“Wake up, Will…” the video continued. “The Matrix has you…”
But don’t get too excited just yet, because although Warner Bros. announced a new Matrix movie was in development in April 2024, the Bad Boys star is not currently involved in the franchise, sources told Variety.
E! News has reached out to Warner Bros. Pictures as well as a rep for Will but has not heard back.
The original sci-fi action movie, released in 1999, starred Keanu Reeves as protagonist Neo, a computer programmer who is prophesied as “The One” to liberate humanity from the machines controlling the Matrix. Its success spawned three sequels: 2003’s The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as well as 2021’s The Matrix Resurrections.
Will previously explained his decision not to take the role—which was also offered to Keanu’s Speed costar Sandra Bullock—revealing he simply didn’t get the concept proposed to him at the time.
“After we made Men in Black, the Wachowskis came in, and they had only done one movie,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel in 2019. “As it turns out, they're geniuses, but there's a fine line in a pitch meeting between a genius and what I experienced in the meeting.”
Despite the film’s success—or, perhaps, because of it—Will defended his decision to turn down the role.
“Keanu was perfect, Laurence Fishburne was perfect,” he declared. “I probably would’ve messed The Matrix up. I would’ve ruined it. So I did y’all a favor!”
While you wait for more details on the fifth Matrix movie, keep reading to see other new and upcoming movie releases.
Toy Story 5 - June 19, 2026
Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the gang return as the toys take on tech in the form of a frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Supergirl - June 26, 2026
When a ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl (Milly Alcock), reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Minions & Monsters - July 1, 2026
The little yellow guys return for a new animated adventure set in 1920s Hollywood. Featuring the voices of Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Zoey Deutch, and Jesse Eisenberg.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Moana - July 10, 2026
Disney adds to their live-action remake roster with this reimagining of the 2016 animated hit. Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as demigod Maui and Catherine Laga'aia stars as Moana.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
The Invite - July 10, 2026
When a couple invites their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Starring Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
The Odyssey - July 17, 2026
A seriously all-star cast assembles for director Christopher Nolan's epic take on the ancient Greek poem. Starring Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway and many more.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day - July 31, 2026
This new chapter of the superhero franchise finds Peter Parker (Tom Holland) living and crime-fighting alone in New York, having erased himself from the lives and memories of those he loves. Zendaya returns as MJ and Sadie Sink joins the cast.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
One Night Only - August 7, 2026
Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro co-headline as two strangers searching for love in New York City.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
The End of Oak Street - August 14, 2026
After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together. Starring Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie - August 14, 2026
After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs and are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Practical Magic 2 - September 11, 2026
The witchy Owens sisters return in this sequel to the 1998 classic. Starring Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Lee Pace, Joey King, and Maisie Williams.
Where to Watch: In theaters
The Love Hypothesis - September 23, 2026
Based on the New York Times best-seller, The Love Hypothesis follows Olive (Lili Reinhart), a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her department's most intimidating professor, Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). Their mutual need for a fake relationship turns into an experiment in chemistry that might actually solve for love.
Where to Watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Verity - October 2, 2026
Adapted from Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
The Social Reckoning - October 9, 2026
A companion piece to 2010's The Social Network, writer/director Aaron Sorkin's new film is inspired by the true story of a young Facebook engineer (Mikey Madison) who enlists the help of a Wall Street Journal reporter (Jeremy Allen White) to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong) and the social network’s most guarded secrets.
Where to watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Sense and Sensibility - October 16, 2026
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Elinor Dashwood in this latest adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel. Also starring Fiona Shaw, Caitríona Balfe, George MacKay, and Esmé Creed-Miles.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
The Cat in the Hat - November 6, 2026
Based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book, this animated adaptation will feature the voices of Bill Hader, Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, and America Ferrera.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - November 20, 2026
This highly anticipated prequel revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games. Also starring Glenn Close, Whitney Peak, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Mckenna Grace and Maya Hawke.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Focker-In-Law - November 25, 2026
Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro reunite alongside Ariana Grande for this new chapter in the Meet the Parents franchise.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Hexed - November 25, 2026
This animated coming-of-age saga follows an impulsive teenage girl named Billie (Hailee Steinfeld) who discovers secret magical abilities which hurtle her into a spectacular journey out of suburbia and into a vast witch realm called Hexe.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Avengers: Doomsday - December 18, 2026
An insanely star-studded cast of MCU fan-favorites return to our screens in this fifth installment of the Avengers film series.
Where to Watch: In theaters
Buy a ticket HERE.
Dune: Part Three - December 18, 2026
Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet return to deliver the epic conclusion to director Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy. Also starring Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, and Javier Bardem.
Where to Watch: In theaters and IMAX
Buy a ticket HERE.
Jumanji: Open World - December 25, 2026
The core cast (Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart) returns for this final installment of the reboot trilogy about a magical board game.
Where to Watch: In theaters
