Jonah Hill Was Offered Role In Tarantino's Django Unchained

While talking to MTV (via ThePlaylist) Jonah Hill confirms that he was offered a role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. It would have been likely the role of Scotty Harmony. He must be kicking himself considering it would have branched him out more internationally to be in a Tarantino film.


"I got offered the new Quentin Tarantino movie, and I can't do it because of my schedule.....Doing Quentin's movie would have obviously been amazing, but my schedule didn't work out, which sucks."

Anthony LaPaglia Joins Django Unchained, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Role Revealed

Deadline reports that Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia (The Client, Empire Records, Summer of Sam) has joined Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. He'll play the leader of the Australian slave-trading gang who kidnap Django (Foxx) and his wife Broomhilda (Washington) selling them to Calvin Candie (DiCaprio). LaPaglia revealed that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, Dark Knight Rises, 50/50) will play his younger brother in the film. This is confirmation that Joseph has been indeed been cast. It will be interesting to see Gordon-Levitt adopt an Australian accent along with playing a villain.

Kerry Washington Officially Joins Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained

Deadline reports that actress Kerry Washington (Last King of Scotland, Ray) has finally been confirmed for the lead female role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. It's been rumored since the summer that Kerry was up for the role of Django's wife Broomhilda who is being held captive by Calvin Candie (DiCaprio).

Joseph Gordon-Levitt In Talks For Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained

Variety reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is currently in talks to join Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. The role is unknown but he's previously worked with Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the film's villain Calvin Candie in Christopher Nolan's Inception. Joe has been carefully choosing his directors since Inception with high profile roles in films like The Dark Knight Rises, Rian Johnson's Looper, Jonathan Levine's cancer comedy 50/50 and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. I've become a big fan of Joseph's performances and the thought of him working with Tarantino is beyond exciting.

The stellar cast already includes Dicaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Don Johnson, Laura Cayouette, Dennis Christopher, Gerald McRaney, Michael K. Williams, Tom Savini and M.C. Gainey. Django Unchained is aimed for a December 25th 2012 release date.

Tom Savini Joins Django Unchained

ThePlaylist has picked up a on report that special effects guru and genre character actor Tom Savini has joined Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Savini is a regular in Robert Rodriguez's films with roles in Planet Terror, Machete and From Dusk Till Dawn written/co-starring Quentin. The film already stars Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Dennis Christopher, Kurt Russell, Laura Cayouette,  M.C. Gainey, Don Johnson and Michael K. Williams.

Don Johnson Joins Django Unchained

Variety reports that Don Johnson (Miami Vice, Machete) has a role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. While his role is unnamed it's expected the part is one of the few meaty ones left.

Two More Join Tarantino's Django Unchained, Production Starts In November

HeatVision reports that another role in Django Unchained has gone to actor who has previously worked with Quentin. What had been long rumored as a role for Uma Thurman has gone to Laura Cayouette. The role is Lara-Lee the widowed sister of Calvin (DiCpario). Laura had a small role playing a stripper named Rocket in Kill Bill Volume 2. They mention production is set for November which is earlier than previously reported. ShowBlitz also has revealed that Dennis Christopher (Chariots Of Fire, Breaking Away) is negoations to take the role of Calvin's lawyer Leo Moguy. The cast already includes Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael K. Williams, Kurt Russell and Gerald McRaney.

Kurt Russell In Talks For Django Unchained

HeatVision, TheWrap and ShowBlitz report that Kurt Russell is in talks to replace Kevin Costner as Ace Woody in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Costner had to leave the film to focus on other projects he previously committed to. Ace Woody is brutal trainer of the slaves who fight at Calvin Candie's (DiCpario) Candyland. Kurt previously played the villain in Tarantino's Death Proof, his underrated jump into the horror genre. He's best known for his string of John Carpenter films from the 80's that include The Thing, Escape From New York and Big Trouble In Little China.

Michael K. Williams Confirms Django Unchained Role Is A Go

AICN was able to speak with Michael K. Williams (Boardwalk Empire, The Wire) about how close he is to getting a role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Williams came in second place for the lead of the film against Jamie Foxx. Apparently Quentin wanted him so badly in the film he's gone back to create a new role for him.

"I’m going to dare to say it’s going to go."

Michael K. Williams Could Join Django Unchained

There had been rumors that Michael K. Williams (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire) had been in the mix for the role of Django in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Micheal confirms this to Shadow&Act (via ThePlaylist) and has finally comments on the whole thing. He doesn't say it's a sure thing but Tarantino is trying to create a character for him so that he would appear in the film. Williams is best known for his legendary role of Omar on the Wire. He's been giving us interesting performances currently with Gone Baby Gone, Brooklyn's Finest, The Road and as Chalky White in HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Quentin is known for beefing up and or creating roles for actors so he can add them in his films.

"The rumors of me being considered for the lead role in ‘Django [Unchained]’ is very true. I was in meetings with Quentin, QT as I call him. It came down to Jamie and I,” Williams confirmed. “Wow… what a person to lose to. It’s not official yet but there’s a lot of talk that there may be a role coming back ‘round my way."

"Yes another role in the film. It’s not official yet but there’s a chance.  His people and my people have been in discussions in regards to a role that he is creating for me."

Gerald McRaney Joins Tarantino's Django Unchained

ShowBlitz reports Gerald McRaney (Deadwood, Major Dad) a veteran television actor has landed a role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. McRaney is expected to play a plantation owner in the film that already has Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Kevin Costner starring.

Kerry Washington & Kevin Costner Could Join Django Unchained

Two possible additions are being reported for Quentin Tarantino's epic western Django Unchained. First, Variety says Kerry Washington has met Quentin to play the role of Broomhilda. Django's wife being held captive by Clavin Candie (DiCaprio) at Candyland. Deadline has another impressive cast member with Kevin Costner in talks for the role of Ace Woody. A sadistic trainer of the male fighting slaves that entertain patrons at Candyland and is just as villainous as Candie.

FOXX UNCHAINED

Today Variety officially released the casting of Jamie Foxx for the role of Django in Tarantino's Django Unchained. Foxx's character is a freed slave, who teams up with a german bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to rescue his wife Broomhilda (rumored Kerry Washington) from a slave owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). Samuel L. Jackson is also starring in the film. This film is scheduled to hit theaters Christmas Day 2012.

Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained Set For Christmas 2012

We're still waiting on final casting announcements but it looks like everything is moving into place. The Weinstein Company has set a December 25th 2012 release date for Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.

An R-rated film isn't uncommon for the holiday season as David Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is marketing itself as "the feel bad film of Christmas". Not to mention Quentin's Jackie Brown also dropped during the holidays with the tagline "Santa's got a brand new bag". This also seems to conflict with previous thoughts that Django could end up with a speedy post-production like with Basterds for a Cannes 2012 premiere. It sounds more reasonable that it could have it's premiere during the Venice Film Festival.

Jamie Foxx Frontrunner For Django Unchained?

Showbiz411 reports that Jamie Foxx is now inline to land the lead role in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. The role was originally setup for Will Smith but he is rumored to have backed out. The two other candidates include Idris Elba and Chris Tucker. The site also confirms that Leonardo DiCaprio has signed on for Calvin Candie, along with Sam Jackson and Christoph Waltz.

An Overview Of The New Django Candidates

When it comes to a Quentin Tarantino film it can launch careers and earn industry awards for it's actors. Relatively unknown actors like Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Fassbender, Melanie Laurent and Christoph Waltz were given prime roles rising their profiles. He's also known to resurrect careers such as with John Travolta, Pam Gier, David Carradine and Robert Forester. Django Unchained looks to be one of Quentin's most controversial film yet as the spaghetti western homage will focus on America's era of slavery.

While it seems three of the major roles could be filled by Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz. The lead role of freed slave Django might be the second meatiest part in the film. Django is on a mission to save his wife from Calvin Candie (DiCaprio) and his horrific Candyland. The Missouri club pits male slaves in death matches while the women are used as sexual playthings. A German dentist turned bounty hunter agrees to help Django get his wife back and enact revenge on Candie, if he assists him on a few missions first. It's been reported that Will Smith, Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx and Chris Tucker are in the running for the role.

Will Smith was originally linked for the role and had been willing to take a paycut. Those talks seem to have broken down as others are now being mentioned. Smith is an odd actor taking little risks with his film roles and it's not suprising as he's a major money maker. If anything I would compare casting Smith in the role as casting Brad Pitt in the role of Aldo in Basterds. I think Smith has a other projects to be concerned about as Men In Black 3 is in production and is likely to need reshoots. Along with possible roles in The Wachowskis' Hood and Bad Boys 3.

Jamie Foxx has a lot of acting pedigree like Smith as he earned an Oscar for Ray and has had solid career of dramatic, action and comedic roles. Foxx could be the one the studio wants as he might not be asking as much as Smith and could be an easy road to awards consideration. As Jamie is the most well known actor of the new candidates.

Chris Tucker is also very well known internationally but hasn't made a film since Rush Hour 3 (2007). The upside is that Tucker has worked with Quentin previously on Jackie Brown. This very well could be a resurrection of sorts for Tucker as he's been out of the spotlight. A couple of years ago I wouldn't say Chris could fit this role but he's drastically changed psychically. Going from the tall/lanky Tucker from Rush Hour and Friday to a rather bulky guy. If he doesn't land the lead I hope he ends up in another role in the film.

Idris Elba is about to blowup as he's been praised for his television work on The Wire and Luther. Along with excellent supporting roles in films like RockNRolla, Thor, 28 Weeks Later and American Gangster. He reminds me of where Michael Fassbender was in his career when he was cast in Inglourious Basterds. Idris has been a favorite of many people for the role so I'm sure that's been taken into consideration. Hopefully Elba starts the transition to leading man sooner than later. The only problem is that he is also in talks for Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim which will likely conflict with the shooting schedule of Django.

Simon Crane Off Kane & Lynch, Wayne Kramer Now Directing

LatinoReview reports that Millennium Films has parted ways with Simon Crane who was set to direct their adaptation of the video game Kane & Lynch. The site says that director Wayne Kramer (Crossing Over) has come in to replace Crane. Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx are still starring and the film was promoted recently in Cannes.


I think this is for the better since Wayne has a decent resume of films. They include the adrenaline fueled Running Scared and the amazing small film The Cooler. I'm expecting big things with Kramer now signed on.