Jaden Smith (a.k.a. Will Smith Jr.) has recently landed a key supporting role in ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ remake alongside Jennifer Connelly and Keanu Reeves.
Comingsoon.net gives us these details:
Smith will play the rebellious Jacob, the 8-year-old stepson of scientist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) who first makes contact with the humanoid alien Klaatu (Keanu Reeves). Kathy Bates and Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm also star. Scott Derrickson is directing the contemporary reinvention of the 1951 Fox classic being produced by Erwin Stoff, Gregory Goodman and Paul Boardman. It is filming in Vancouver.
Well, at least this is better news than the rumored news that Jaden was going to be the next karate kid. However, I myself am surprised I have not heard any news about this remake before today. Jennifer Connelly, Keanu Reeves, and Kathy Bates? How did I let this slip by me?!
Jaden Smith is the last person I really wanted to comment on this article considering I had no idea about this remake, but I would like to see how this how this young actor will do when he’s not acting alongside his father. I find him to be a tad cocky at such a young age, but maybe his father’s humility will grow on him. (After all, Will Smith wasn’t always so humble back in the day.) So what do you guys’ think? Do you think Jaden has what it takes to be the next great child star? (hehehe)
Thanks Oldshell. As long as a kid fits in the movie and is not there for no reason, a la I Am Legend, I’ve got no bones with casting him.
doug – the original was definitely NOT an action movie.. it was like an anti-action movie. Loved the original… don’t remember a kid in the original, but then I don’t remember a kid in war of the worlds (book etc) but that turned out ok (despite the kid.. just)
Goddamnit, I’m skipping this movie now, kids in non-kids movies piss me off.
The original was great, but I can’t see this remake being very good. Keanu Reeves? Come on.
And to further defend Campea, he even mentions how much he LOVED The Great Debators and how he would have preferred that a deserving young African-American actor get the role that is being wasted on 50 Cent in that DeNiro/Pacino flick in the new podcast. I’m all for busting on people who are racist assholes, but my Johnny isn’t one of them. Step the fuck down.
Now, back to the subject of Hollywood nepotism…
Good or not, I’m never excited about kids in action movies (if this is an action movie – admittedly, don’t really know much about it).
Ditto Kristina…
“Campea fan”-John is NOT relentless towards black people. Do you read his other posts where he tears strips off white celebrities’ backs as well? That’s because he (and the rest of the crew on the movieblog) do not think the way people like you do.
I said this movie will be crap and stand by it. They’re going to have to completely change the story around to get it to appeal to modern audiences, and it’ll suck.
After all, the original movie is just a bunch of people walking – that’s really the only action in it.
OMG, why is it that every single post online(not just here) about any African-American star has to descend into some allegation of racism? There is nothing in this post that even slightly suggests racism. Stop looking for what ain’t there. Stay on topic, for Pete’s sake.
Anyway, I thought the kid was good in The Pursuit of Happyness. I wonder if he would have gotten this role if it wasn’t for mom and pop, but it’ll be up to the kid to prove his own merit. Your name will only get you so far.
Oh okay, I’m sorry Serena. But John does seem to be relentless when it comes to African-Americans alot. I didn’t mean to suggest any sort of racism.
Hey “campea fan”
I wrote the article…not John, and I happen to be half BLACK. Your ignorant statement is false and just plain stupid.
This is not the first time I had to clarify my race on an article which happens to be about African-American actors. Everytime, I find that if one of us writes an article and doesn’t like the actor, and if he or she happens to be a race other than white, there is always some person that comes onto these boards and claiming the writers are racist. No one here is prejudice! (except maybe you.)
Ransom,
C’mon this is themovieblog.com Black people don’t get the benefit of the doubt, here. Right John?
Give the kid a chance…
I just recently saw the original the other night and I really enjoyed it. I usually dont give older movies a chance, but this one grabbed my attention right from the beginning. It will be interesting to see how they make this and how far they go with the special effects.
I think often with these types of films they go for sensory overload with the CGI and the story gets pushed aside. The original is more about themes and the human characters playing off of Klaatu, I enjoyed that part of it and Im interested to see if they build on that in the remake.
https://www.themovieblog.com/2007/08/keanu-reeves-joins-the-day-the-earth-stood-still-remake
He was good in Happyness. I need to see a lot more from him before I make a comment. Good luck kid. Your dad made a lot of money for a lot of different studios – stay away from drugs cause you can’t be/live up to your dad. There I said it.