Jaden Smith (The Pursuit Of Happyness, The Karate Kid) has joined the cast of Netflix’s 13 episode hip hop drama The Get Down, which hails from The Shield and Last Resort showrunner Shawn Ryan and Moulin Rouge helmer Baz Luhrmann.
The Get Down is set in 1970s and is described as “a mythic saga” which examines how New York, at the brink of bankruptcy, gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco – as told through the lives and music of the South Bronx kids who changed the city, and the world…forever.
Smith will play 18 year old Marcus “Dizzee” Kipling a psychedelically talented and enigmatic graffiti writer raised in the South Bronx. He is the latest addition to a cast which already includes Jimmy Smits, Herizen Guardiola, Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown, Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Mamoudou Athie.
“We as an audience have known Jaden since he was very young. Recently, Jaden has been seeking diverse and challenging roles and this is a testament to his passion to grow in the craft”, said Luhrmann. “In the short time he has joined our acting family, he has begun developing his The Get Down skill set, even taking lessons from the legendary graffiti artist Lady Pink of ‘Wild Style’ fame, as well as steeping himself in the history and culture of the Bronx. We’re all very happy with the casting of Jaden in the role of ‘Dizzee’ Kipling, and with his addition, the Kipling family cast is now complete.”
