Sandra Bullock turned down the role of Neo in 'The Matrix'
The casting process for the legendary science fiction film was so complicated that the producers considered rewriting the script to make the female character.
There are actors who seem to have been born to play a particular role, a role with which the rest of her career is inevitably associated. There are many and varied examples, and this connection is not always positive, since for many interpreters it means a high risk of typecasting. This is not precisely what happened with Keanu Reeves, who has had a fairly prolific career before the cameras. However, it cannot be denied that the character the Lebanese-born Canadian will always be remembered for is Neo from 'The Matrix'.
However, one of the producers of the famous cyberpunk films directed by the brothers (now sisters) Wachowski has revealed information that is causing a sensation in many of the fans of the trilogy. And it is that apparently, the cast could have been led by another Hollywood star that at first, it is difficult to imagine in the role: Sandra Bullock.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, one of the architects of the successful saga, has revealed the information in an interview with 'The Wrap', explaining that, during the pre-production stage of the first film, released in 1999, the search for the perfect actor for the role of Neo was proving fruitless. And in the face of these difficulties, to quote his own words, the production team "was getting desperate." It was then that the famous actress came to mind.
"Joe Silver and I worked with her on Demolition Man and she was - and continues to be - a good friend of mine," the producer declared, explaining how her offer to the actress came about. "We sent her the script to see if she was interested, and if so, we would have tried to make the change," added di Bonaventura, thus confessing the willingness to turn the protagonist into a woman if necessary.
The other candidates for the role of Neo
Bullock's rejection was simply because "it wasn't her thing at the time," so her character ultimately ended up in the hands of Keanu Reaves, who made her his forever. The name of the actress is thus added to those of other stars who in their day were also weighed to embody Neo, and that include Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise or Will Smith, who by the way, has publicly regretted have said no to the opportunity. On the other hand, Bullock herself commented in 2009 that she was also considered for the role of Trinity, something that did not materialize either.
Fortunately, it is a case in which no career was harmed, since the interpreter, after a time of blockbusters leading romantic comedies, ended up consolidating her qualitative status by winning an Oscar for 'The Blind Side' ten years ago . And Reeves, on his side, is about to release the third installment of what has been another of his success bets: the 'John Wick' action movies.
