Jada Pinkett Smith Wanted br Will Smith to take 'Matrix' role The actor was approached to br play Neo in the 1999 sci-fi film, but he famously turned it down. Jada was disappointed because br she wanted him to take the role. She knew in her gut that the film br would be "revolutionary." Jada Pinkett Smith, to 'EW' Smith recently said he turned down br the part because he wasn't happy br with the pitch by the film's writers.