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.

Leonardo DiCaprio Turns Down Another Tarantino Role

Variety's Jeff Sneider tweeted an interesting casting tidbit concerning the role of Dr. King Schultz (the dentist turned bounty hunter) in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Originally the role was offered to Leonardo DiCaprio but he declined giving Christoph Waltz another opportunity to work with Quentin.

Previously DiCaprio had been Tarantino's top choice to play Col. Hans Landa in Basterds but turned it down making way for Waltz to win an Oscar. I'm curious why DiCaprio is opting not take choice roles in Tarantino films which were written with him in mind. His current batch of projects are likely based on directors alone with roles that seem mostly Oscar bait. I personally enjoyed Leo in Sam Raimi's The Quick & The Dead so I'm a little disappointed he's not returning to the western genre. The rumored/in talks cast currently includes Will Smith, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Franco Nero, Treat Williams, Keith Carradine and Uma Thurman.

Emile Hirsch Also Joins Oliver Stone's Savages

Variety reports Emile Hirsch (Into The Wild, Milk) has also joined Oliver Stone's Savages in an unnamed role. The cast already includes Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman and John Travolta.

Blake Lively, Uma Thurman & John Travolta Confirmed For Savages

Deadline reports that Blake Lively (The Town, Green Lantern) has officially joined Oliver Stone's Savages. They also confirm that Uma Thurman (Kill Bill) and John Travolta have also been cast. They join an already impressive group that includes Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass), Taylor Kitsch (John Carter of Mars), Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek. 

It would seem that Lively has chosen Savages over the Glinda role in Sam Raimi's Oz, The Great & Powerful. I have high expectations for this new Oliver Stone film as he hasn't been able to make compelling film that I've enjoyed since Any Given Sunday (1999). The subject matter could be the key element to Stone returning to his Scarface roots.

Blake Lively Frontrunner For Oliver Stone's Savages

Recently Taylor Kitsch (John Carter of Mars), Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) and Benicio Del Toro had been confirmed as the main cast for Oliver Stone's Savages. Variety has word that Blake Lively (Green Lantern, The Town) is the frontrunner for the role of O the friend of the two pot growers (Kitsch, Johnson) who is kidnapped by a Mexican cartel. Other actresses who had been looked at the role included Abbie Cornish, Teresa Palmer and Olivia Wilde. An official offer has yet to go out to Lively but it is expected. The report also mentions Uma Thurman is up for a part in the film.