CAST EM': Kevin Costner Drops Out Of Django Unchained

A tweet from Variety's Justin Kroll has somewhat confirmed that Kevin Costner who had been tapped to play Ace Woody in Quentin Tarantino' Django Unchained has left the film. It's likely a another project conflicted and just didn't work out. A majority of the cast has yet to be announced and I figured I'd give my two cents. I'll be using ThePlaylist's character descriptions since I refuse to spoil the film for myself by reading the script. Currently the confirmed actors are as follows Jamie Foxx (Django), Leonardo DiCaprio (Calvin Candie), Christoph Waltz (Dr. King Schultz), Samuel L. Jackson (Stephen) and Gerard McRaney (?).

Playlist had an interesting take on the character in their early casting suggestions. They pegged Danny McBride for the role of Ace Woody and is seems like a solid fit considering Tarantino's previous use of comedians in Inglourious Basterds. McBride has been able to pull off a dark side in his HBO series Eastbound & Down. The site also suggested Catherine Hendricks (Mad Men, Drive) for the role of Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly, Calvin's (DiCaprio) widowed sister. I wouldn't be shocked to see the director go younger for Lara Lee. As she was originally described as in her early 40's but now that Calvin is being played by a younger actor the sister might be as well.

Another important role is the wife of Django Broomhilda, who should be played by Naomie Harris (Miami Vice, Street Kings) even if Kerry Washington is rumored. The only problem is that Harris is going to be in Bond23 but it's unknown the extent of the role.

Leo Moguy is Calvin's lawyer and I'd like to think this could be a role given to Simon Pegg. Simon had wanted to join Inglourious Basterds but had to drop out passing on the role of Lt. Archie Hicox to Michael Fassbender. Hopefully he's able to shoot a cameo of sorts before/during/after the filming of Star Trek 2 which is expected to start in December.

There are also a trio of Aussie "white trash peckerheads" named Roy, Floyd and Jano, who drive a caravan of slaves. I liked the site's suggestion of Ben Mendelsohn (Cogan's Trade, Trespass, Animal Kingdom) but I'd like to see Simon Baker (Land of The Dead, L.A. Confidential) and Noah Taylor (Submarine, Life Aquatic, The Proposition, Almost Famous) in there as well. I wouldn't be shocked to see Russell Crowe in one of these parts considering he just finished a role in the Tarantino produced The Man With The Iron Fists. Crowe has also starred in two westerns The Quick & The Dead and 3:10 To Yuma so he does enjoy the genre.