Samuel L. Jackson pressured Leonardo DiCaprio to step outside of his comfort zone during the filming of Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 film “Django Unchained” according to Jamie Foxx.
Playing Calvin J. Candie, a despicable plantation owner entrenched in the brutal realities of slavery, DiCaprio initially struggled with the script’s use of racial epithets—a pivotal element of his vile character.
Jackson, alongside co-star Jamie Foxx, confronted DiCaprio over his reluctance during production and encouraged him to fully embody the role, despite his hesitation with using the N-word, which was intrinsic to his character’s power and cruelty.
“Leo had a hard time saying the N-word,” Foxx shared in a Vanity Fair interview reflecting on his career. “We’re doing a read and Leo says, ‘Hey, guys. Cut! I just can’t do this. This is not me.’”
Jackson, known for his candor, cut through the tension with a jolt of perspective. Foxx recalled Jackson telling Leonardo DiCaprio, “‘Say that s###, m###########! It’s just another Tuesday. F### ’em.’”
Jackson’s no-nonsense approach seemed to resonate, pushing DiCaprio to grapple with the historical truth behind the character’s words and actions.
The conversation didn’t end there. Foxx also chimed in with advice, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in portraying such a morally reprehensible character.
“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,’” Foxx explained. “And I told him, you won’t be able to play that character unless you really understand what slavery is about. It was tough. It was horrific. Ain’t no kikiing with slaves.”
With his co-stars urging him to commit fully to the role, DiCaprio returned to the set the next day transformed. According to Foxx, his demeanor had changed as he channeled Candie’s menacing energy.
“So the next day I see Leo. He walks in, I said, ‘Leo, what’s up? L, what’s up?’ He don’t speak to me. He’s ready. Everybody started digging in,” Foxx recounted.
“Django Unchained,” a revisionist Western, explored themes of vengeance and liberation as Foxx’s title character, Django, a former slave turned bounty hunter, infiltrates Candie’s plantation in a daring attempt to rescue his enslaved wife, Broomhilda.
DiCaprio’s portrayal of Candie is widely regarded as one of his most chilling performances, and Jackson’s no-nonsense approach to acting likely played a role in helping him access the character’s despicable nature.
The film sparked debates upon its release for its unflinching depiction of slavery and liberal use of the N-word.
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