Sandra Bullock’s Costly Rejections: Two Films She Turned Down

Sandra Bullock has built a reputation for making shrewd decisions about which projects to take on and which to politely decline. Her filmography boasts a string of successes, from The Proposal and Speed to The Blind Side, yet even the most discerning actors occasionally pass up opportunities that, in hindsight, might have been game-changers. Among the roles Bullock has turned down, there are two in particular that stand out—one of which she admits she still regrets.

Turning Down Neo: The Matrix That Wasn’t

It’s hard to picture anyone but Keanu Reeves as Neo, but before he donned the iconic black coat, the part was offered to several others—including Bullock. After her breakout in Speed, she caught the eye of the producers, who were so keen they even considered rewriting Neo as a woman. According to Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the team was growing desperate to cast the lead and reached out to Bullock, offering to adapt the character for her.

They sent her the script, but she ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit at the time. Reflecting on the decision, Bullock later confessed her disappointment, saying,

There haven’t been any roles that I wanted that I didn’t get, but there was a movie I wish I had done: The Matrix. At the time [I was approached about it], it wasn’t cast with Keanu, and I didn’t see myself with the person they wanted. Later, I saw the movie and loved it. It was sexy and great because of Carrie-Anne and Keanu.

The film went on to become a critical and commercial sensation, spawning a franchise that has grossed nearly $1.8 billion worldwide. Reeves, for his part, earned a reported $35 million for the first instalment, with bonuses from the sequels bringing his total earnings to well over $100 million. The role of Neo not only defined a generation of action cinema but also cemented Reeves’ place in Hollywood history.

The Unnamed Superhero Project

In 2021, Bullock appeared on a popular late-night chat show to promote The Unforgivable. During the interview, she revealed she had been approached for a superhero film, but declined the offer after consulting her son, Louis. She clarified that the project was neither Marvel nor DC, stating, “

I was approached for something that wasn’t Marvel, but my son said not to do it

.”

Bullock went on to explain that her son felt the role wasn’t quite right for her, and, as it turned out, he was correct. She remarked,

It was kind of in the place that Louis felt I shouldn’t be… and he was actually right. I saw it when it came out and I was like, ‘Ooo! That’s unfortunate.’

She also mentioned she had never been approached by Marvel, adding, “I don’t think I’m Marvel material.”

What Might Have Been

The identity of the superhero film remains a mystery, with Bullock offering only the clue that her son was between four and eight years old at the time. This tantalising detail has left fans speculating, but the actress has kept the specifics to herself. While Bullock’s career has hardly suffered from these missed opportunities, it’s intriguing to imagine how things might have unfolded had she chosen differently.

For those curious, The Matrix is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.