There are some Brad Pitt fans that feel like any film he winds up in will be a hit. In fact, many movies make it to the box office based on his esteemed credentials alone on the cast list.
But Brad doesn't say yes to every project. Fans have been thrilled to see him in pitch-perfect roles over the years, and he's even taken on films where he earns as little as $1,000. Clearly, Pitt can have his pick of literally any movie out there.
It's also been decades since he's had to actually work to eat (though fans have noticed he's often eating while he works, but that's another subject altogether).
Still, some of the films that Brad has passed on went on to amass millions in sales. In some cases, fans start to wonder whether he regrets having said no to specific franchises or opportunities.
And in the case of 'The Matrix,' it's clear that whoever played the role of Neo would've become massively famous -- even if it wasn't Keanu Reeves. Right?
Brad Pitt In 'The Matrix'? Fans Say No
Though Brad said no to starring in 'The Matrix,' it became a hit thanks to Keanu Reeves' on-point acting. And some fans say that Keanu was perfect, suggesting that the film would've been merely passable had Brad taken center stage instead.
Redditors even suggest that had Brad taken the helm, the film would have been more "action" and less "science-fiction-y." The fan has a point; most of Brad's gigs have been more action or romance-related. The niche didn't quite fit his resume.
Brad Pitt Doesn't Regret Skipping 'The Matrix'
Of course, from Brad's perspective, it wasn't really the genre of the movie that led him to pass on the film. He doesn't actually give a specific reason for turning it down, of course, but fans can assume his schedule was just too full.
After all, fans ribbed the actor a bit by saying that he's probably been offered every film where the lead is a man. He nearly became Jason Bourne, too.
He has no regrets, though, because Brad doesn't believe in taking projects that aren't really meant for him. As fans quoted, Brad once said that because of his upbringing, "if I didn’t get it, then it wasn’t mine. I really believe [the role] was never mine. It’s not mine. It was someone else’s and they go and make it."
It's a healthy perspective to have, and everyone who's seen Keanu in 'The Matrix' can agree that the lead actor did make the role his own. As for Brad, saying no to the movie (he wasn't offered the second or third, BTW) didn't ruin his career or get him blacklisted in Hollywood. So everything turned out OK -- even though he took the red pill.