Overview

• Will Smith said he declined the Inception role because he couldn’t connect with Nolan’s dream-within-a-dream premise.
• Brad Pitt was Nolan’s first choice for Dom Cobb but passed, prompting the offer to Smith.
• Leonardo DiCaprio ultimately accepted the part and helped Inception gross over $839 million worldwide.
• Smith counts Inception among other major films he passed on, including The Matrix for its confusing pitch and Django Unchained over creative direction.
• Nolan reportedly gave Brad Pitt just 48 hours to decide on the script before moving to other actors, illustrating his swift casting approach.