Will Smith has released a new music video referencing him turning down the lead role in 1999’s The Matrix. The sci-fi smash hit, which was directed by The Wachowskis, starred Keanu Reeves as Neo, the Chosen One who is humanity’s only hope at breaking free from imprisonment in a virtual reality. However, Reeves’ role in the Matrix cast nearly went to Smith, but the actor – who had recently been the star of the hit sci-fi movies Independence Day and Men in Black – said no to the offer.

Will Smith has now released a new music video for a song тιтled “Beautiful Scars,” which he performs with Big Sean and OBanga. The video, which opens with a now infamous clip of him reflecting on turning down the role of Neo in The Matrix, gives him the opportunity to finally play a version of Neo after more than 25 years. It opens with Big Sean dressed as Laurence Fishburne’s Matrix character Morpheus and offering Smith red and blue pills. Taking the red pill would allow him the chance to reverse his biggest career regret.

Though that regret is turning down The Matrix, this sequence does nod to the infamous Oscars moment where Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock after Rock joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. After Smith takes both pills, the music video properly kicks off with Smith in Neo’s outfit, performing the song (which also includes lyrical reference to The Matrix) as he recreates various iconic scenes from the 1999 movie, some of which are presented as faux behind-the-scenes footage. See the video below:

What This Means For Will Smith

It’s A Throwback In Multiple Ways

The release of this music video offers full closure after the release of a mysterious teaser that Smith shared on his official Instagram account in early January. The cryptic video, which clearly referenced Will Smith turning down The Matrix and potentially getting a chance to reverse his decision, led to speculation that he would be starring in a new movie in the franchise. These rumors were later categorically denied by The Hollywood Reporter‘s Aaron Couch, though Couch did not explain exactly what the video was teasing.

While Smith has not signed on to any future Matrix movies, this music video engages with the actor’s legacy in a second important way. In addition to paying homage to one way his onscreen career could have panned out, “Beautiful Scars” cements his return to music. Although he first became famous as a rapper, he has not released a studio album since 2005. Additionally, before 2024, he had not starred in a music video since being featured in Yasha Malekzad’s “Live It Up” and Carlos Pérez’s “Está Rico” in 2018.

Our Take On The New Will Smith Music Video

He Never Needed The Matrix

While the references to The Matrix in this video bring Will Smith’s career full circle, he never needed the Wachowski movie to help his career. This may not have seemed to be the case in 1999 when his own sci-fi movie Wild Wild West became a notorious critical and commercial flop. However, he went on to star in major тιтles including I Am Legend, Suicide Squad, and Aladdin (2019), eventually winning an Oscar for his performance in King Richard, proving he never needed to play Neo to springboard his career.

Source: Will Smith/YouTube