Jaden Smith is heading to Netflix. The 16-year-old actor and musician has landed a recurring role on Baz Luhrmann's hip-hop drama "The Get Down," The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.
In the series, Smith will play 18-year-old Marcus "Dizzee" Kipling, a talented and enigmatic graffiti writer who is raised in the South Bronx, N.Y.
"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," Luhrmann said in a statement. "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."
He added, "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."
Smith joins cast members Jimmy Smits, Herizen Guardiola, Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Mamoudou Athie.
"The Get Down" has been described as a hip-hop musical drama set in New York City in the 1970s. The show follows a group of South Bronx teenagers as they explore the "city's art and music scene as hip-hop, punk and disco begin to take form." The characters are armed with "verbal games, improvised dance steps, some magic markers, and spray cans."
The series will be executive produced by Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Paul Watters, Thomas Kelly, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Shawn Ryan and Marney Hochman. Luhrmann will direct the first two episodes and the season finale, and serve as executive producer.
The 13-episode drama from Sony Pictures Television will debut on Netflix in 2016.
