The Matrix is coming up on its 20th year anniversary, and nothing says anniversary like big, family secrets being revealed (@ any family anniversary party I've been to ever!!) and The Matrix is no exception to this rule!
IMDb | Warner Bros
Sandra Bullock Was Originally Offered The Role Of Neo In 'The Matrix' Before Keanu Reeves
This is Sandra Bulock. You know her, you love her. She's super relevant now but she was even MORE relevant in back 1999.
Getty Images | Michael Loccisano
By 1999, Sandy had already rocked the movie world with iconic films such as Speed, Demolition Man, and The Vanishing just to name a view.
Keanu Reeves was also popping off at this point, but not enough so to be considered for the lead role in "The Matrix" until many other people turned it down.
According to The Wrap Keanu was only considered after Brad Pitt, Leonardo Dicaprio and Will Smith and Sandy had turned the role down!
Speaking candidly to 'The Wrap', Lorenzo di Bonaventura, (who fought to get the The Matrix into production) said production was willing to turn the lead role, Neo, into a woman specifically for Sandra!
“We went out to so many people I don’t remember. We were getting desperate, we went to Sandy Bullock and said ‘We’ll change Neo to a girl.’"
He continued, "[Producer] Joel Silver and I worked with Sandy on ‘Demolition Man’ and she was and continues to be a very good friend of mine."
IMDb | Warner Bros
"It was pretty simple. We sent her the script to see if she was interested in it. And if she was interested in it we would try to make the change.”
Obviously, we know now that Sandy said "absolutely not" or *something* along those lines.
IMDb | Warner Bros
"It just wasn’t something for her at the time” he concluded.
Well hey, it all worked out the way it should have in the end, right? We love destiny!
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