Will Smith’s blockbuster comeback in Bad Boys: Ride or Die last summer reignited the spark, and speculation about his next move has been rampant. As fans anticipate his artistic encore, one constant remains: Smith’s reputation as a social butterfly, always fluttering around the next big thing. Yet, when he dropped a cryptic Matrix message hot on the heels of the New Year’s countdown, the internet was left scratching its head. Could this be a hint at a role in the upcoming Matrix movie?

Smith’s filmography is a blockbuster bonanza, but Matrix has never been his—until now, perhaps?

Following a star-studded New Year’s bash, Will Smith dropped a cryptic Instagram reel that rewound to his past decision to relinquish the iconic role of Neo, which ultimately plugged Keanu Reeves into The Matrix. Warner Bros. announced a fifth Matrix installment with Drew Goddard, but according to Variety, Smith is not involved in the franchise yet. In the video shared by Smith, the text is in third-person, recalling his decision to choose Wild, Wild, West.

“What would The Matrix have been like with Will Smith as Neo?”, the actor asks before declaring, “The Matrix has you.” Right from afar, it seems like a wake-up call for Smith, but his venture may be irrelevant to cinema since he has been teasing the release of his first album in 20 years. Given his melodic momentum from last year’s singles, and plans to further harmonize his artistic identity with music, it could indeed be a sonic hint.

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The announcement strikes another chord, resonating with Will Smith’s renewed passion for music and his quest for artistic rebirth.

Last year, before electrifying the crowd with his chart-topping hits at An Evening With Will Smith at the Grammy Museum, the actor revealed that music has been the catalyst for his artistic transformation. “Music is a more honest place for me,” Smith told the audience, according to The Hollywood Reporter. For a star accustomed to bottling up anger and sadness, music had become his liberating force, allowing him to express the inexpressible. 

Smith embarked on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, admitting that he was learning to confront his demons and harness the power of vulnerability. His growth path is not about avoiding the darkness, but dancing with it to emerge stronger. Though his mysterious move may not be a direct dive into the Matrix, he looks poised to take control of his own creative matrix, with music probably as his guiding force.

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What do you think Will Smith's cryptic message about Matrix could mean? Let us know in the comments below!