Jamie Foxx is a well-known actor who is known for his impeccable acting. The superstar enjoys a dedicated fanbase with pretty successful filmography. However, Foxx went a step ahead when it came to securing his leading role in Quentin Tarantino’s, Django Unchained. The acclaimed filmmaker shared that he had his sights set on Will Smith for the lead role, but Smith turned down the offer, opening up the gateway for other actors.
Foxx, uncertain about securing the role, found himself trying to convince Idris Elba to reject the project. The role eventually went to the Baby Driver star as Tarantino had no plans to cast a Britisher for an American story. But the confession of Foxx about persuading the Beasts of No Nation star out of the role surely came as a shock to the audience.
Jamie Foxx’s Attempt To Persuade Idris Elba Out Of Django Unchained
After Will Smith turned down the leading role of Django Freeman in Tarantino’s 2012 movie. Jamie Foxx had his eyes all set for the role but the superstar was insecure about the consideration of Idris Elba by makers. Believing that the Thor actor had more chances of being selected, the Just Mercy star tried his best to convince Elba to reject the role. The Collateral star added and shared his reasons for eventually being chosen for the role, highlighting his Texas background.
“Your beautiful black ass ride up on that horse, it’s gonna be problems for everybody. But I understand that me being from Texas and coming from a Southern place, it wasn’t as heightened as you guys listened to it. It was sort of like just another Tuesday. I had already learned the text and everything, so I performed it in front of him. But here’s what I think won him over; I had my own horse.”
Quentin Tarantino On Rejecting Idris Elba In Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino, the visionary director, shared that Idris Elba was in consideration for the lead role in Django Unchained after the Men in Black star refused to star in the film. But the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood maker couldn’t proceed with the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom star, as he was British. Tarantino was committed to presenting an authentic narrative and didn’t want actors putting on fake accents to portray the American story. This reasoning influenced his choice to eliminate Elba from consideration, ultimately paving the way for Foxx to take on the lead role.
“Yeah, Idris is British and this is an American story. I think a problem with a lot of movies that deal with this issue is they cast British actors to play the Southerners and it goes a long way to distancing the movie. They put on their gargoyle masks and they do their phony accents and you are not telling an American story any more. They are just making hay of it, whether it be James Mason in Mandingo or Michael Caine in Hurry Sundown, they get British actors to do this.”
It looks like Jamie Foxx’s Texas background not only helped him to connect well with the script but also convinced the Pulp Fiction director to cast him in the leading role. The film went ahead to become a success by impressing both the audience and critics alike.
Django Unchained is available on Paramount +.
Source: TIFF; Female First
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