Dakota Goyo, left, and Hugh Jackman in a scene from "Real Steel." (Melissa Moseley / DreamWorks)
“Real Steel” actor Dakota Goyo, 12, was selected from “hundreds of boys” for the role of Max because of his “authenticity,” director Shawn Levy told the audience at Monday’s early IMAX screening of the film.
“We did know that even if the rest of us did everything right, if the kid isn’t great, the movie can’t be great,” Levy said at the Los Angeles screening, hosted by Hero Complex’s Geoff Boucher. “I saw a lot of really talented kids, but I knew this part needed something different or more. It’s what Ricky Schroder had in ‘The Champ.’ It’s what Justin Henry had in ‘Kramer vs. Kramer,’ Henry Thomas had in ‘E.T.’ It’s what Spielberg calls an authenticity. It’s separate from acting.”
Watch the video above to find out more about Goyo’s casting and performance, and be sure to check out previous video installments of the Q&A here, here and here.
– Noelene Clark
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YES I LIKE IT
what Ecrevisses you?
i think dakota goyo is so hot and i' m say'in that cause i'm 12 to
i like dakota goyo too but i'll be 12 in aug,16,2012
I'm one of his great fan in korea…. I really like him too and I'M 1year younger that him…
(sorry my english is little awkward cause i'm korean~)
I agree jessica and i am 12 also!!!
i love ya dakota goyo
DAKOTA GOYO i'm just saying what i like
yea i like too
omg love love loved the movie…dakota is such an inspiration hope to meet him soon
hahahahaha ya right LOVE U DAKOTA 
OMG i really hope i can meet you you seem so nice i loved your acting on the R.L Stine show you are cute nd are a very nice person it seems like and i wish i an be famous just like you and meet you i am 11 years old but you are an awsome actore
I'm one of his great fan in korea and I really like him
I'm 1year younger than him~
(sorry my english is awkward cause i'm korean:q)
I'm one of his fan in Myanmar.
I like him.
I LOVE DAKOTA AVERY GOYO! He is the most hot actor in the world
And I hope to meet hem soon I love him and I
Have 12 years like him
OMG!!! Dakota Goyo is soooo hot im 12 years old i would soooo go out with him if i could!!!!!!