Will Smith shared an inside story about casting his son Jaden Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness” in a recent episode of the Full Send Podcast.
Will Smith reveals that he initially didn’t want to do the movie ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and explains how Jaden Smith got the role of his son in the film.
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In 2006, Will Smith and his son Jaden shone in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” a biographical drama directed by Gabriele Muccino. The film is a true story about Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman struggling to build a better life for his son. However, behind the film, off-stage, doubt had engulfed me; the challenge was staring me in the face, and an unplanned twist involving who would play Jaden happened.
When he was first offered the role of Chris Gardner, Will Smith hesitated. He doubted whether an audience would be attracted to a film set in the 1980s about a man who could not find a job. James Lassiter, his manager, finally talked him into it. Boy, did that movie pay off: more than $300 million at the box office worldwide.
Getting Jaden Smith to play Chris Gardner’s son was difficult for them. Will said they scouted all over, and the competition was insane. However, director Gabriele Muccino auditioned around 500 kids but found nothing special until one night, Will was on his bed reading the script when five-year-old Jaden told him he could do it.
“I can do that, Daddy,” remembered Will with a smile.”I was like, ‘You can do what?’ And he’s like, ‘Duh, play your son… I’m your son every day, Daddy.'” Jaden said, sparking an idea that would change the film’s trajectory.
After overwhelming first resistance from the studio, which was very much worried about the nepotism factor, Jaden‘s audition to Muccino was so impassioned that it made him cry. “It has to be Jaden,” he insisted. However, to ensure fairness, Will and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, stepped back from the decision-making process.
“Intrigued and somewhat amused, Will brought Jaden in for a reading. The moment was magical. Gabriele Muccino, known for his emotional sensitivity, was deeply moved. “He teared up,” Will said. “He was like, ‘It has to be Jaden.'”
But convincing the studio was another matter, as they thought it would mess up the optics. The studio felt it would look like I was just putting my son in a movie, and they were like, ‘Please don’t. That’s going to kill it,'” Will said.
Finally, the Smiths decided to stand down and let Jaden take a shot at making an impression himself. Jaden auditioned the way any other child actor would do for the role. He auditioned nine times; in Will’s memoir, he said, “The studio simply didn’t want the problems that came along with casting him.”
Jaden was good enough to prove merits each time he gave auditions, and at last, the studio had to bear its surrendering knee- Jaden was the only one who fit the role. Interestingly enough, Will admitted on said podcast that he nearly rejected the movie by almost entirely turning it down. At the time, he was unsure if the story had the legs to resonate with the people.
“It was just a magical time, and my manager, James Lassiter—I credit his taste,” Will added. “I did not want to make The Pursuit of Happyness. I looked at it, and it was a great story, right?
Will, however, admitted that he had some reservations about it at first but finally respected his manager’s judgment: “I read [the script], and I loved it; I just didn’t think it had box-office viability.” Very soon, his doubts were refuted since the film premiered at the top of the box office and finally collected almost $164 million in the United States and Canada. For his strong performance, Will got a Best Actor nomination at the 2007 Academy Awards, guaranteeing the film’s success.
Jaden endured a grueling auditioning process, with readings required nine times separately. He always demonstrated enough raw talent and innocence to be incontrovertibly suitable for the role. The studio finally gave in, and Jaden made his film debut in a natural, touching performance that delighted moviegoers.
The most demanding scene is when Chris Gardner and his son are sleeping on the floor of a public washroom. Here, Will Smith had to demonstrate deep desperation and determination in the role; it was an actual performance depicting how far a father would go to save his child. This remains engrained not only in Will’s memory but also in the audience’s.
The Pursuit of Happyness marked a turning point in Will Smith’s career. After getting used to major, high-grossing films like Men in Black and I Am Legend, the film reflected his ability to take up more dramatic and emotionally challenging roles. He was nominated for an Oscar in this film and remained one of the best diverse actors in Hollywood.
He also learned a valuable lesson in authenticity while working with Jaden on this film. His natural performance and frank feedback let Will out of the mechanical cage that can hold actors and help him truly connect with his character. Pure magic is what Will can think of when reflecting on that precise moment in time and, more importantly, the pivotal role his manager played in his taking on the project.
“The Pursuit of Happyness” was one of the best movies he ever made, opening doors for more dramatic roles and eventually critical acclaim. The success of the film and the depth of emotion in Will‘s performance demonstrated his ability to portray a wide variety of emotions. It also led to more collaborations with Jaden, including the 2013 “After Earth.”.
