Who Could've Played Neo Better Than Keanu Reeves?

[Jerk Shapiro]

Here are my top 3 Neo's:



1. Jason Statham
This is a cool up-and-coming action film star!

2. Tobey MacGuire
I can't doubt this guys action ability since Spider-Man!

3. Guy Pearce
Great actor, Memento, Great guy...I guess.

[James Logan]

I heard the Wachowski brothers wanted to cast a lot of people, but the people wouldn't agree to the six month training, and only Keanu Reeves would dedicate the time to the movie. Among those people who turned down the movie was Will Smith, and I can't help but think Big Willie woulda been better than Keanu as Neo. :)

[syxxpac]

I totally agree with Guy Pearce. Come to think of it, I would've really loved to see Pearce in the role. He'd be perfect.

Some others I'd think would play good Neos are:

1) Edward Norton

2) Jared Leto

3) Thomas Jane

4) Jason Lee

5) Tom Cruise

I know some of those are downright odd choices, but I think all of them would make pretty damn good Neos.

[James Logan]

You guys are right...Guy Pearce woulda been a great Neo. Good point.

[Highspeed]

Tom Cruise? For some sick twisted reason I can't picture Cruise as Neo...

[dh1989]

There is one simple answer.....

Edward Norton


He is good at action roles(Red Dragon). He can obviously do dramatic roles. I bet he would have done the training. I have watched his interviews and he seems very dedicated to any role he does. Having the best actor ever would have made THE MATRIX even cooler.

[Tom Samborski]

Colin Farrell would have been a good choice to play Neo.

[machette]

I agree w/ Edward Norton.

[xirtam]

Edward Norton does seem to fit the part, and although he does devote himself to movies, he probably wouldn't have done this movie, because it's not really his type of movie. He does higher, more dramatic stuff (not always dramatic, but just more "important" films) and I'm sure at the time anyone reading the screenplay would think it's just a popcorn film.

I don't see why everyone is so mad at Keanu, he wasn't horrible at the part. Sure, he was kind of stiff at times, but he WAS playing a computer nerd, isn't that how they act? (No offense to anyone on this board)

[Lindsey]

I thought Keanu did the job well, and I thought he did a great job. I wouldn't choose anyone else, because I think he's the man . I maybe could see Edward Norton do it, sice he's a GREAT actor...but once I saw Keanu play Neo, I knew he was the right guy for the job!

[Cyclonus]

I can't imagine anyone else as Neo. Edward Norton is a great actor, but I don't see him as an "action star." (Red Dragon is good, but not what I'd call an action movie.)

[LAW]

Colin Farrell came to mind first, but you guys are right, Guy Pearce would have been very interesting.

If they ever do a parody film, they have to get Dustin Diamond!!!

[darkface]

Colin Farrell would make a perfect NEO. He has the looks down, and he's a great actor.

[Jerk Shapiro]

That he is. Can't wait for PHONE BOOTH!

[Congerking]

well acccording to imdb, the original choice for NEO was will smith. I for one have nothing against will smith, but he would have made a horrible, horrible, horrible, dare I say horrible NEO. Ewan McGregor was offered NEO but turned it down. I think that Keanu Reeves was a great choice. Come on guys, TED beating people up, what movie do you want?

[Invincible]

Keanu Reeves is perfect for this role, don't hate him! ! ! :mad:

[vastlynne]

Although Keanu can be a stiff neck sometimes when it comes to acting...I thought he portrayed Neo very nicely and cannot even think of anybody else maybe except Edward Norton or Collin Farrell. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that Will Smith was offered because he gives off a very different vibe and I don't think he could have pulled off Neo as good as Keanu. His best role yet since "Bill & Ted" :D :D

[movieghoul]

Bruce Campell. That man can do anything. but seriosily, I really liked Keanu Reeves as Neo, sure he was stiff and his acting isn't going to win him any Oscars, but he did the role well and I have no complaints :) As for Guy Pearce, personally, I Just cant see it.

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

I think the role of Neo, had to be taken by someone who is kind of,....dorky, for lack of a better, more descripitive word. And, although great actors, most of the people being listed here, arent exactly,....dorky. So, yeah. I think Keanu Reeves was a "totally excellent choice, dude".

[Congerking]

even though guy pearce does have the same body type as keanu, I don't think he is as popular in the US as he is non-us. Keanu is a bigger box office name.

[Jerk Shapiro]

Ol' Keanu isn't exactly a big box-office bust. Anybody see that movie "THE WATCHER"? Hell-fucking-no!

I don't like Keanu, and I know a lot of people out there agree. Dammit.

Howabout: Brandon Lee, Simon Baker, Guy Pearce ( again ), Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes ( Running out here ).

[Hooligan]

I think Colin Farell would`ve been good for the role, but Keanu pulled it off.

[Congerking]

WOW, a name that I totally forgot. Brandon Lee would have been perfect (if he didn't die of course). THE CROW was one sweet as movie and he would have blown keanu out of the water. TOO BAD though. :(

[APzombie]

Every time a thread asks who should play, or who should have played a male character, everyone preaches Edward Norton... I admit i like the fellow but come on, i could never picture him as Neo... Same goes with Tobey MacGuire, that would be humiliating... seriously, to Neo's enemies..

I think i am the only one who thinks that Keanu Reeves is, and always will be perfect casting... I think he has the look, the coolness , the geeky computer hack charm (that could easily be turned completley around, cough* Speed *cough) and i personally think that he is a great actor... I wonder why so many people can't get the damn image of his Bill & Ted character out of their minds! He has evolved much since then.

Keanu Reeves is NEO.

[APzombie]

Originally posted by Congerking
WOW, a name that I totally forgot. Brandon Lee would have been perfect (if he didn't die of course). THE CROW was one sweet as movie and he would have blown keanu out of the water. TOO BAD though. :(

woah, he would indeed be a superb choice, Rest in piece. Im still very satisfied with Keanu....

[darkface]

http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/dcforum/User_files/3dbf703527ec5021.jpg

I still think that Colin Farrell would make a good NEO, better than most, but i still like Keanu.
I photoshoped the poster, but there weren't too many Farrell pictures with the right angle.

[Invincible]

LOL Darkface :D no offense man, that poster is just 'funny' or when you made it you meant it to be funny? :cool:

[darkface]

O-no, it was meant to be fun. lol I had a spare second (that and working on your table vince).

[areyoubeingserved]

I think Christian Bale would have been quite good, but probably similar to Reeves anyhow. He seems to have his own Matrix styled film coming up with EQUIBRELIUM.

Pearce is a definite. We Bentley would have been interesting but lets save him for Batman.

[Scarface98.9]

I could easily imagine Colin Ferrel or Guy Pearce as Neo. Bale could work, and if Lee hadn't died, he coulda also worked. But why does everyone always pick Ed Norton for every similar topic? Personally, it's hard to imagine him as an action movie star.

My own original choices would be Ray Park (Phantom Menace) or Rufus Sewell

[Negrotigre]

Scarface,
I have to agree with you. Rufus Sewell is an excellent actor, underused, and perfect to play Neo. I also think Guy Piece Colin Ferrel would also work.
Will Smith may be the worst actor of all time, who undoubtibly would have made the Matrix another Wild Wild West movie. I can't watching him.

[Asokan]

I heard Will Smith was approached with the role, but in my book Keanu Reeves is THE PERFECT CASTING CHOICE for Neo.

Why? Because he isn't really able to act and is often quite dull, but here the Wachowski Brothers don't demand great acting, they instead demand great POSING, as standing in the middle of the frame and looking cool into the camera wearing smooth clothes with stunning weaponary. Everyone else in the cast (well, except for genuinely great actors like Hugo Weaving and Laurence Fishburne) do little else than pose, but do this brilliantly. Everything in this movie matches stylistically and that's the whole point.

With Edward Norton, hundred times the actor Keanu wants to be, it would've been too sophisticated and psychologically troubling. With Keanu on the other hand it's just simple, great fun and thus he gives the defining performance of his career here (previously it was his equally engaging simpleton in SPEED).

Long live the dull, but cool actors of modern cinema!!!

[projectionist]

Originally posted by MOVIE-Maniac 8
Here are my top 3 Neo's:

1. Jason Statham
This is a cool up-and-coming action film star!

2. Tobey MacGuire
I can't doubt this guys action ability since Spider-Man!

3. Guy Pearce
Great actor, Memento, Great guy...I guess.

Okay, Jason Statham would have been an AWESOME choice but I dont think it would have brought in all the money it made if he was in it though (sad to say). Choices 2 and 3 I wouldnt touch with a 100 ft pole.

My top three Neo's:
1 or 2. Brad Pitt

1 or 2. Keanu Reeves

3. Matthew McConaughey (U-571 look)

[cereal killer]

For every one who thinks Edward Norton would be great, i'm sorry but I disagree, I can't picture him doing any of the scenes in the original matrix. Edward Norton is a great actor but the Matrix just isn't for him.

[noisy_brut]

Reeves played the "what the hell is going on" stuff well, but it was a bit of a stretch to believe him being a great or competent hacker/programmer.

[Dogma]

I'm gonna go with Christian Bale as Neo. He'd rule.

And as much as I love Guy Pearce, I think he would make an even better Agent!!!

[Smith-2.0]

There's no doubt in my mind the Wachowski's would have gone with Brandon Lee had he not have died. That would have been the ultimate role for him..

Aside from that, the only other person I can think of is Chrsitian Bale. After seeing Equilibrium, I can picture Bale as a phenomenal choice for the one..

[therealjohng]

I would've loved to see their original choice to play Neo...Chow Yun Fat.

[therealjohng]

Yeah, I'll have to apologize, Chow Yun Fat was supposed to play Morpheus, not Neo.

Sorry about the confusion.

[Lindsey]

Originally posted by therealjohng
Sorry about the confusion.

Yeah? Well you better be! ;)

I couldn't picture seeing Chow Young Fat play Neo.

[adamjohnson]

how about AHNOLD!?

yall dog on keanu too much, this was the role built for him. he has stiff dialogue, but isnt the dialogue stiff, so to speak. and he doens even talk that much. Arnold is stiff too, but no one makes fun of him cuz hes such a big badass and theyd be afraid hed kill em.

[bob]

Personally, I would have chosen almost anyone in Hollywood to play Neo before Keanu Reeves.

[Kim K]

How about Johnny Depp?...think about it for a second. I think it would be awesome if Depp would do an all out action movie like The Matrix.

[Mad Maggot]

Well, first of, Keanu Reeves did his part just plain perfect! And adove that, if I had to choose, Ed Norton would be The One then :D

[MickeyKnox]

Edward Norton
Guy Pearce
Eric Bana
Johnny Depp

[Neesh]

The Matrix was such a cool fuckin movie that even the really bad acting buy Keanu couldnt detract from it. There seem to be alot of Keanu fans here... but lets get real. He's just a another pretty face, a character actor, and the characters which he can play are pretty limited. He was at his best in Bill & Teds excellent adventure.

I'm sure some of you people also think he's a "great" bass player too, and the "perfect" choice for the role of bassist in Dogstar. You guys are also probably one of the thousands of people who would go to see Dogstar in concert, and spend 98% of the time just staring at the bass player.

No offense people, i'm just messin with ya. ;)

Who could have done a *worse* job at playing Neo? That might be a harder question.....

[FunkDaddy]

Although I think Keanu was born to play Neo, I read that they approached Ewan MacGregor to play the role before him, I could definately see him doing a great job as well. Ed Norton too.

[Dirkimus]

i think i should have been Neo. maybe because im poor and i know that it racked in a hell of a lot of cash?

otherwise, yeah, i'll stick with Keanu....Keanu is The One

[bullions27]

Guy Pearce, Christian Bale, Edward Norton and Colin Ferrel are all pretty good choices, but honestly, can you picture Neo as anyone other than Keanu Reeves? ;)

I for one am glad Will Smith was NOT given the role of Neo. Him doing the "Who's da'man! Huh? Whos' da'man!" on a defeated Agent Smith and pretending to be his rapper-self again in the end credits just doesn't jive. That's just me.

[TomGreenFan]

I think Hugh Jackman would have been a kick ass neo, he has this certain edge to him.

[TATU]

Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson (BTW I'm kidding)
Tom Cruise or Benicio Del Torro or even Jet Li.

[free]

I've found the perfect Neo. ;) :D :D

[darkface]

Originally posted by free
I've found the perfect Neo. ;) :D :D

LMAO nice

[Brock-Landers]

i would say Viggo Mortensen or Johnny Depp

[Donnie Darko]

No one else was needed. Keanu Reeves fulfilled the role as well as anyone, in my opinion. If they were to replace him with another actor in sequels, for some reason, the Matrix series would cease to be in my mind.

I mean, it's like if they got someone besides Toby Maguire to play Spiderman in the sequels... it just is not the same. Christopher Reeve WAS superman, and anything else live action without him as the man of steel just doesn't feel right.

[Jerk Shapiro]

There are worse choices, mind you:







Brendan Frasier, Boy George, Gary Coleman, Bill Cosby, Steve Martin, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Dave Chapelle, Tom Cruise, Marlon Brando (now), Humphrey Bogart (c. 1940), Steven Seagal, Ja Rule, DMX, Billy Christal, John Ritter, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, D.J Squalls, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, Zena: Warrior Princess, Jack Black, Leonardo DiCaprio, Wierd Al Yankovich, Carrot Top...and many more.

[Duder]

Julia Roberts

[Etrigan]

I figured they were staying away from an Asian actor...b/c there was alot of martial arts in the film and that would have been too cliche....but d00d, Jet Li would have kicked so much arse.


and I could really see Chow Yun as Morpheous, although Fishbourne was awesome regardless.

[DevilMonkey]

I would actually Agree with Colin farell, and tobeyt mcgwire. But the ultimate neo would definnantly be:


STEVEN SEAGAL






















































Yeah right

[Brock-Landers]

the best NEO would be ............. BURT REYNOLDS

[Scarface98.9]

Since I last posted 7 months ago, my answers have slightly changed:

Guy Pearce isn't someone who I can easily imagine as Neo. He wasn't a big star then (or now, honestly), so no one would've put out the money, but he just doesn't seem right for it.

Rufus Sewell played a similar role in Dark City, and now that I think of it, wouldn't have fitted as Neo. Though it'd be nice if he played a different role.

Colin Farrel fits very nicely. He looks a lot like Keanu, and can play a scared guy (which Neo starts out as) and turn into a badass by the end.

I still stand by Ray Park. It'd be an odd thing to see, but definitely displays badassness in every movie he does (yes, even Ecks Vs. Sever) and could convievably work.

And everytime a similar discussion starts, Ed Norton is always mentioned. It could be "Who should play Jaws in Jaws 5?" People would probably say "Ed Norton!" He's versatile, but as an action star, it doesn't fit. He seems too scrawny anyways imagining him as Neo

[The Handeman]

Jackie Chan LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Brock-Landers]

BURT REYNOLDS nuff said!

[Nachokoolaid]

Two words...
Sidney Poitier

If you can't see him as Neo, there's something wrong with the world. I can see it now, "Whoa...guess who's coming to dinner!"

[Neesh]

Originally posted by Scarface98.9
.

And everytime a similar discussion starts, Ed Norton is always mentioned. It could be "Who should play Jaws in Jaws 5?" People would probably say "Ed Norton!" He's versatile, but as an action star, it doesn't fit. He seems too scrawny anyways imagining him as Neo

I guess you didnt see him in American History X....

Burt Reynolds.... nah. How about Leonard Nimoy ?

[Majin Imhotep]

I think Mark Dacascos would have made a cool Neo.

Christian Bale, Jason Statham, and Colin Farrell would have been good choices also.

[Brock-Landers]

i'm not the biggest fan of Keanu but really Keanu Reeves is cool in The Matrix films