The 2012 revisionist western, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, follows a slave named Django who’s determined to reunite with his wife after she was sold to the owner of the Candyland plantation. Django teams up with a bounty hunter as they set across the south to collect what’s theirs.
Earlier this month, Jamie sat down with Vanity Fair for the latest episode of their popular series Scene Selection. The Oscar-winning actor took a trip down memory lane to share some fun tidbits and behind-the-scenes facts about some of his most memorable roles.
“The subject matter, the N-word specifically, Leo had a hard time saying the N-word,” Jamie told Vanity Fair. “We’re doing a read, and Leo says ‘nigger,’ and then he goes, ‘Hey man, hey guys, cut. I just can’t do this. This is not me.'”
“Samuel L. Jackson said, ‘Say that shit, motherfucker! [laughs] It’s just another Tuesday. Fuck ’em!’ And I told Leo, I said, ‘Leo, you know, in slavery days we would never talk to each other. So, I’m not your friend, I’m not Jamie Foxx. I’m Django.'”
“You won’t be able to play that character unless you really understand what slavery was about,” Jamie added. “It was tough. It was horrific. Ain’t no kiki-ing with the slaves.”
Samuel tried to help Leo feel more comfortable getting into character, but it was that last push from Jamie that really set the tone, because once he told Leo not to look at him as a friend, his whole demeanor changed on set.
“So, the next day, I see Leo. I said, ‘Leo, what’s up? L, L, what’s up?'” But Leo didn’t even acknowledge him. It was at that point that Jamie realized Leo took his advice into consideration.
“He [doesn’]t speak to me. He’s ready,” Jamie added. “[After that], everybody started, you know, digging in.”
The multi-hyphenate entertainer went on to praise his costars and director for bringing such talent to the set, particularly Samuel, who he believes was robbed of an Oscar nomination for his performance.
The way Samuel could switch in and out of his character with such ease still amazes Jamie to this day.
