DreamWorks lands actor for 'Real Steel'

11:33 PM PDT 10/13/2010 by Borys Kit, Jay A. Fernandez

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11-year-old Dakota Goyo to play Hugh Jackman's son

After casting a wide net for its search of a young actor to play Hugh Jackman's son in "Real Steel," DreamWorks and director Shawn Levy have tapped 11-year-old Canadian Dakota Goyo for the part.

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The story, set in a future world where robot-boxing has replaced human mano-a-mano, follows a former boxer (Jackman) who gets a shot at redemption when he teams up with his long lost son to train an unusual robot for a shot at the championships.

DreamWorks, making its first movie under its deal with Disney, issued a public casting call in early February. It also conducted open auditions in Chicago and New York, looking for someone to play a "street-smart, tough, charming kid with a hard, untrusting outer shell which hides a warm enthusiastic spirit beneath."

Goyo, who has worked mainly in Canadian television, may be best known Stateside for his work with Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett in 2007's "Resurrecting the Champ." He is repped by WME and Thruline Entertainment.

Production on "Steel" begins in June, with Disney releasing on November 18, 2011. Levy is producing along with Don Murphy and Susan Montford.