When it comes to Hollywood’s elite, only a few actors possess the universal respect and admiration that Keanu Reeves does. Known for his down-to-earth personality and dedication to his craft, the actor has built a career marked by iconic roles in films like The Matrix and John Wick. Yet, amidst the action-packed blockbusters and thrilling narratives, he once teamed up with the likes of Jaden Smith and Jennifer Connelly to play an alien in the 2008 film, The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Keanu Reeves in John Wick 4 | Credits: Lionsgate

After all, Smith’s acting career had taken off after he starred with Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. However, shortly after their team-up, Reeves opened up about what it was like working with the now 26-year-old.

How Keanu Reeves felt about Jaden Smith in The Day the Earth Stood Still

Jaden Smith may have broken onto the scene with his acting skills. But the star has since switched his focus to his career in music. Although it seems as though he is following his father, Will Smith’s footsteps, he also picked up a few other things from his famous parents. Shortly after teaming up with Keanu Reeves in The Day the Earth Stood Still, he proved that he might just have what it takes to keep his career going. According to reports from The Things, the 60-year-old actor could only compliment the child star’s professionalism.

Keanu Reeves, Jaden Smith, and, Jennifer Connelly in The Day the Earth Stood Still | Credits: 20th Century Studios

He’s a good kid and he’s very professional, so I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary to bond with him just because he was a young actor.

Reeves may have kept his distance from the young Smith. However, what he did notice was the child’s behavior. After all, the 26-year-old had grown up watching both his parents, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, live out their lives on screen and even on film sets. With the actor being exposed to the film industry long before stepping into it, it came as no surprise that he knew how to carry and handle himself.

Reeves had claimed to not have done anything extraordinary to bond with Smith. However, their time on set wound up leaving a big impact on the young actor.

Jaden Smith reveals what working with Keanu Reeves was like

It may be hard to imagine Jaden Smith being starstruck by another actor. After all, the Icon singer had been surrounded by Hollywood’s elite his entire life. However, when he worked with Keanu Reeves on The Day the Earth Stood Still, he could not help but find himself in awe of the 60-year-old star. In a later interview via The Things, the young star opened up about working with the industry’s favorite actor.

Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness | Credits: Columbia Pictures

He is a really cool guy and a great actor and he is very, very funny. He always had a lot of jokes and also made me feel welcome.

Smith’s confession about Reeves may have come as a surprise to most. After all, the 60-year-old has built a reputation of being a rather serious person on and off set. However, with the young actor, that did not seem to be the case. It might have been the only film the duo worked on together. But it looks like both of them managed to leave good impressions on the other.

With Smith switching careers and focusing on music, he may not have enough time to focus on acting anymore. However, with the star knowing how to handle himself in the industry, he might eventually make a surprise comeback like his father.