Jamie Foxx has recalled his Django Unchained co-star Leonardo DiCaprio being uncomfortable with using racial slurs in the film, until Samuel L. Jackson abruptly convinced him.
In the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film, DiCaprio plays Calvin Candie, a flamboyant but sociopathic slave owner who is the villain of the piece. The role required the star to use a lot of derogatory language, something Foxx recalled he struggled with in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“The subject matter. The N-word, specifically. Leo had a hard time saying the N-word,” Foxx said. “We’re doing a read and Leo says, ‘Hey, guys. Cut! I just can’t do this. This is not me.’ Samuel L. Jackson goes, ‘Say that shit, motherfucker! It’s just another Tuesday. Fuck them’”.
Foxx then also tried to help DiCaprio get in character. He said: “I told Leo that in slavery days we would never talk to each other. I’m not your friend. I’m not Jamie Foxx. I’m Django.
“And I told him, ‘You won’t really be able to play that character until you understand what slavery is about. It was tough. It was horrific.’ So the next day I see Leo and I say what’s up to him. He don’t speak to me. He’s ready. Everybody started digging in”.
Django Unchained would become Tarantino’s highest grossing film of all time, making just under $500million worldwide.
The director would win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, while and Christoph Waltz would win Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. King Schultz. Leonardo DiCaprio would miss out on an Oscar nomination, although he was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Recently, Foxx starred in action movie Back In Action, which has received lukewarm reviews from critics. Meanwhile, Tarantino has hit back at people criticising him for his praise of Joker 2, saying: “What do you care what the fuck I like?”
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