Yara Shahidi, Sylvester Powell, and Isiah Hilt have joined the cast of Street Smart, Catherine Hardwicke’s return to gritty, raw storytelling. Known for Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke is back in her element with this indie drama, currently filming in Los Angeles.
The film follows a lively group of unhoused young adults in a beachside town as they navigate life with humor and a dash of Robin Hood-style mischief. Bound by shared struggles and a desire for something more, they form a tight-knit, chosen family.
The ensemble also features Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan), Michael Cimino (Never Have I Ever), Daniel Zovatto (Woman of the Hour), Kaitlyn Kemp (The Razor’s Edge), and Miles McKenna (Goosebumps), adding depth and diversity to the cast.
street smart is co-written by Hardwicke and 13 Reasons Why’s Nic Sheff. Natalie Marciano of Poster Child Pictures (Freud’s Last Session) and Jamie R. Thompson of New Dimension (97 Minutes) are producing alongside Hardwicke. Executive producers include Gerard Butler and Alan Siegel of G-BASE, Jamie Marshall (Den of Thieves), and cast members Isabelle Fuhrman and Daniel Zovatto.
Hardwicke partnered with Covenant House and Safe Place for Youth, two organizations dedicated to assisting unhoused and at-risk youth, to bring authenticity and purpose to the project.
“In the wake of the recent tragedies that have profoundly impacted Los Angeles and the Hollywood community, we feel incredibly fortunate to be working in LA,” said Hardwicke. “We’re working together with a crazy cool group of actors and filmmakers to make an intensive, provocative, and joyful film.”
Shahidi is represented by CAA and Ryan Nord, Powell by Pakula/King & Associates and The Rosenzweig Group, and Hardwicke by CAA and Management.