Will Smith rejected Nolan's Inception role: unseen interview

Will Smith has publicly shared his reasons for declining Christopher Nolan's Inception for the first time.

Inception, the groundbreaking 2010 sci-fi heist film, explores complex dream manipulation technology used for corporate espionage. What begins as a professional mission gradually descends into psychological turmoil across multiple reality layers.

Early casting reports indicate Nolan initially approached Brad Pitt for the lead role, then offered it to Smith before ultimately casting Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, fifteen years post-release, Smith reveals his previously undisclosed reasoning behind rejecting the project.

"This might be my first time admitting this publicly," Smith confessed during an interview on UK's Kiss Xtra radio. "When Christopher Nolan presented Inception to me, I simply didn't grasp the concept. The narrative complexity of these alternate reality films often doesn't translate well in pitch meetings. Honestly, these two rejections still bother me."

Smith's "two rejections" remark references his famous passing on the role of Neo in 1999's The Matrix - a decision he's frequently discussed. His admission about misunderstanding Inception adds another regret to his career's "what-if" list. The film ultimately grossed $839 million worldwide and remains one of DiCaprio's most celebrated performances.

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While Inception's ambiguous spinning top ending continues to spark debate about reality versus dreams, Nolan clarified in 2023 that protagonist Cobb's emotional resolution - reuniting with his children - ultimately matters more than the physical reality of his situation.

Though Smith often references his Matrix decision (even incorporating it into a musical collaboration with Big Sean), this marks his first commentary on passing on Inception. Despite these missed opportunities, Smith boasts an impressive sci-fi filmography including Independence Day, Men in Black, and I Am Legend.