"The Matrix" is one of the most popular action franchises in Hollywood's history, one that made its cast rich beyond their dreams. Even behind the scenes, the film's success was considered a miracle, especially for its creators, the Wachowski sisters, who had only made one film prior to the legendary franchise.

Warner Bros. | Keanu played Neo in "The Matrix"

But no one profited from "The Matrix" as much as its lead actor Keanu Reeve. His career was propelled to new heights of success after he played the role of Neo in the film. However, that almost didn't happen because the filmmakers initially had someone else in mind for the role.

The Wachowski sisters had actually tapped Brad Pitt for the role but the actor turned it down because he had other projects in the pipeline and didn't necessarily need the movie for a brighter career, because he was already one of the most sought-after A-listers in the industry.

Pitt appeared on the entertainment scene in the 1980s, starring in television shows like "21 Jump Street," "Growing Pains," "Dallas" and "Thelma and Louise." Eventually, his good looks and charm started winning hearts around the world, making it easier for him to venture into the film industry with small movie roles.

Shutterstock | Brad Pitt was one of the most sought-after stars in the ‘90s

In the beginning, the actor was only scoring roles in romcoms like "Interview With the Vampire" to "True Romance" and "Kalifornia." His success was largely because of his good looks, but in the 90s, he started taking on bigger projects to prove that he was more than just a pretty face. The actor starred in critically acclaimed films like "Se7en" and "12 Monkeys," but it was his role in 1999's "Fight Club" that became the hallmark of his success.

By the time Pitt received the offer to do "Matrix," he was already at the top of his game, having won several Oscars for his incredible performance in films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Pitt also took up the role of a producer, proving that his talent transcends beyond acting.

But along the journey of becoming a Hollywood A-lister, Pitt has also made some mistakes that he deeply regrets. One of them is turning down the incredible opportunity of starring in The Matrix. Pitt was the first pick for Neo's role but when his team was contacted in regards to the opportunity, he turned it down because the part didn't sit well with him.

Shutterstock | Keanu raked in $80 million from "The Matrix"

Later, in an interview with USA Today, he explained that he didn't think that the part was never meant for him.