In the 1999 film "The Matrix", which actor plays the hacker hero Neo?

In the 1999 film “The Matrix,” Keanu Reeves plays the hacker hero Neo. Neo is introduced as Thomas Anderson, a computer programmer who secretly uses the name Neo in online hacking circles. His search for the truth leads him to Morpheus and Trinity, who reveal that the world he knows is a simulated reality.

Reeves’s performance anchors the film’s transformation from uneasy office worker to the figure known as “the One.” The character’s name carries a built-in clue: “Neo” is an anagram of “one,” reflecting his eventual role in the conflict between humanity and the machines. Reeves returned as Neo in the later sequels, including “The Matrix Resurrections” in 2021.

The casting is sometimes confused because several famous actors were considered for the part. Will Smith turned down the role to make “Wild Wild West,” while Nicolas Cage declined because of family obligations. The Wachowskis also initially preferred Johnny Depp, but Reeves ultimately became inseparable from the character.

Laurence Fishburne plays Morpheus, Hugo Weaving plays Agent Smith, and Carrie-Anne Moss plays Trinity. Those major roles explain why the alternatives can seem plausible, but only Reeves plays Neo.