Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's adopted son Conor is making an audacious bid to follow in his parents' famous footsteps!

The 13-year-old has been cast to star as a young Will Smith in a new blockbuster movie to be directed by Steven Spielberg.
Cruise Jr has wanted to start a Hollywood career of his own for some time, so when Will Smith told Tom about the role he gave Conor permission to audition for his first-ever film role.

That meant Conor only had to convince his mother Nicole Kidman that he was ready to enter the hardnosed world of Hollywood. Nicole spoke to Conor on at least one occasion about the nature of the film industry. She mentioned the fact that there are more disappointments than triumphs and that auditioning is a cruel and unforgiving business.

But Conor was undeterred, and the youngster's sheer will and determination persuaded Nicole he was ready. Having started acting as a teenager herself, she felt it was wrong to deny Conor a great opportunity.

Will Smith warned both Tom and Conor that he'd have to audition against other children vying for the part, and would only be selected if the casting agents for the film were 100 per cent convinced he was ready for such a big step. Despite the fact Conor has never acted outside of his school theatre, he beat the competition to land the part.

Conor will star alongside Oscar winners Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kevin Spacey as well as Will Smith. And his first director will be Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg.

The film is a tense political drama that recounts the events of the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Entitled The Trial of the Chicago 7, it retraces the controversial conspiracy trial
of demonstrators arrested during one of America's most volatile demonstrations.

Ironically, Conor won't be the only actor on set with a famous father. Colin Hanks, the son of Oscar magnet Tom, is also a member of the star-studded cast.

A studio source tells New Idea: 'It's a very intelligent drama that will require complex multi-layered performances. It's a credit to Conor he's been cast.

'His role is relatively small, but in this kind of film every character is potentially pivotal and it's crucial he convinces the audience with his performance.'

The film isn't due to start production for a few months, and Conor will be able to film his part during his summer holidays so he won't miss out on school.

A family friend tells New Idea: 'Tom and Nicole are both very keen their children get a full and balanced education, and they try and make sure Conor and Bella understand what a normal childhood is like as much as possible.

'But when an opportunity like this comes up it would be cruel to hold the children back just for the sake of it.'

The friend says: 'They have extraordinary parents and want the chance to build extraordinary lives of their own.'

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