The world of cinema has a lot of cinematic projects and small-screen entertainment offerings to boast of, which were made possible due to the ensemble of various talented stars that made them so iconic. Among them, the name of Will Smith will always remain immortal as he has had his hands on almost every kind of entertainment product on the market.
Will Smith

And while he may have had many controversies surrounding him in recent times, his resume filled with classic blockbusters will still regard him as one of the best talents the industry has ever seen. Although that doesn’t mean that the star didn’t make mistakes in his career, in fact, he definitely made a big mistake when he rejected to be part of this classic film that ultimately went to Nicolas Cage.

Will Smith Made A Huge Mistake By Rejecting To Be The Lead Star In Snake Eyes

Nicolas Cage in a still from Snake Eyes
From being a major player in the world of Hip-Hop music to being part of the iconic The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air TV series, as well as his successful endeavors in the field of major cinematic projects, Will Smith has a lot to flaunt when it comes to his illustrious career. And although there may not be too much to regret, there are opportunities that he missed during his prime in the film industry, like the time when he dropped the offer to play the lead star in the 90s most iconic suspense thriller titled Snake Eyes.

The part, which ultimately went to Nicolas Cage, was to be the lead character named Rick Santoro, who is a detective in the film. The movie in itself was received extremely well by the audience, as well as the harshest critics alike, which led to its success both critically and commercially, making $103 Million at the box office.

The main reason why the Emancipation star didn’t get on board with the film had to do with the difference in the salary that was being asked by the star and what the production was willing to shell out. Due to this non-negotiable difference, the role was eventually offered to the Ghost Rider star, who took it instantly, and the rest is history.

What Was Snake Eyes About?

A still from Snake Eyes
The tale of Snake Eyes follows Rick Santoro, a corrupt police officer, who was invested by his friend Navy Commander. Kevin Dunne to accompany the Defence Secretary of the United States Charles Kirkland to a boxing match. Here, he witnesses in horror as Kirkland is assassinated, and the whole building is put on lockdown. Therefore, it’s up to him to find out who the perpetrator is, and in doing so, he discovers a sinister conspiracy that is bigger than he could’ve ever imagined.