Besides being a musical virtuoso, Kid Cudi stands a few feet deep in Hollywood for his acting skills. Initially gaining traction for his musical talent, he made his mark in Sonic the Hedgehog Universe, eventually becoming the prominent face of its spin-off series, Knuckles. While his entry into this realm began with his song ‘Stars in the Sky’ for the film Sonic the Hedgehog 2, he has since become a key figure in the franchise, even influencing casting decisions, such as bringing in actors like Jaden Smith. 

Notably, Kid Cudi personally handpicked two standout stars, with Smith being one of them. While the Karate Kid’s reprisal to big screens could be a prime selection, the other one’s name is enough to grab eyeballs.

In a recent interview with MTV UK, Kid Cudi discussed his involvement in Knuckles and reflected on the experience of working on something that had deeply captivated him since childhood. Expressing his astonishment at landing the role, he was then asked about someone he would like to introduce to the Sonic Universe, to which he promptly answered Jaden Smith's name. Cudi continued that he would definitely like another addition for "Timmy," referring to Timothée Chalamet.

Kid Cudi and Smith share a longstanding connection, rooted not only in their musical collaborations but also in a strong brotherly bond. They consistently show support for each other's endeavors, as evidenced by Smith's attendance at Cudi's 'Insano' listening party in LA. As for the relationship between Cudi and Chalamet, it spans over a decade, with Chalamet openly admitting to being influenced by Cudi's music and considering himself a fan. Moreover, the Dune actor had previously confessed to James Corden in 2017 how Cudi managed to inspire him to be an “artist” in many ways.

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Interestingly, this is also not the first time Cudi has kept Chalamet on his list of casting calls. He did something similar for his Entergalactic.

Entergalactic, a creation by Cudi, debuted on Netflix in 2022, utilizing his songs from the album of the same name. The special featured both Jaden Smith and Timothée Chalamet. In an interview with IMDb in the same year, the rapper said that the reason he would like to bring the latter on board was to voice Jabari’s "weed dealer" because for a star like Chalamet to play the same would be absolutely hilarious. 

The pair previously have been part of Don’t Look Up’s ensemble while the HBO series We Are Who We Are featuring Cudi also had a fleeting cameo of Chalamet. However, it was in Entergalactic that the pair’s real-life friendship found a stage on screen since they both played friends for the screen. Back then, fans did expect the pair to make on-screen reprisals soon and it seems the rapper has already given the cues that it is time. 

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What do you think of Kid Cudi's casting preferences for Jaden Smith and in the Sonic Universe? Let us know in the comments below!