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Leo DiCaprio in Talks for the Villain in Tarantino's 'Django Unchained'
by Ethan Anderton
June 7, 2011
Source: Daeadline
After being rumored last week for a major role in the film, Deadline now reports that Leonardo DiCaprio has entered discussions to play the villain in Quentin Tarantino's new spaghetti western flick Django Unchained. The story follows a freed slave named Django who, under the tutelage of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) becomes a bad-ass bounty hunter himself. Then after helping his German mentor, the two team-up to track down Django's slave wife and liberate her from a man named Calvin Candie (DiCaprio) a charming but ruthless plantation owner whom Django must cross in order to get his wife back.
More specifically, DiCaprio's despicable character runs Candyland, a club in Mississippi where female slaves are exploited as sex objects and males are pitted against each other in "mandingo" style death matches. DiCaprio was once rumored to take a role in Inglourious Basterds (coincidentally enough, the role of Hans Landa which ended up going to Christoph Waltz), but now it appears this project will be the first time he and Quentin Tarantino work together. The prospect itself a couple years back was exciting, but now that DiCaprio and Tarantino are finally collaborating, I'm absolutely stoked to see how this turns out.
As for who will play the titular hero of our story, Will Smith name is still being mentioned (as was previously reported), but names like Idris Elba (The Losers, Thor), Jamie Foxx and even Chris Tucker are being talked about. Before you cringe at the last name, remember Tarantino got a decent performance out of Tucker in Jackie Brown, so anything is possible (even if the actor hasn't done a film since Rush Hour 3). If Smith gets the role, this would be a monumentally fantastic cast coming together for such a niche genre film, that I can't help but get excited. Of course, Elba is a great actor in his own right, so we'll see what happens. Either way, Tarantino has my full attention now for sure. What about you?
21 Comments
2
misleading headline... "Gets" gives the impression he's landed/signed on for the film which he hasn't ... early talks is just that...talk
Christopher M (C&CB) on Jun 8, 2011
3
Idris Elba would be perfect!
Commanderzmaster on Jun 8, 2011
4
Damn, Tarantine works up some awsome concepts. http://vimeo.com/22863038
Andresfsanc on Jun 8, 2011
5
Chris Tucker or not... Tarantino knows what he is doing. Dude is brilliant
Smendoza on Jun 8, 2011
6
I have to admit: sometimes I think Tarantino takes the violence too far (except for Bastards--appropriate in that film--LOL). But his ideas are priceless, and he is the master of conversation on film and tension building. This is another amazing sounding concept.
Quanah on Jun 8, 2011
7
Quentin Tarantino + Will Smith + Leonardo DiCaprio + Christopher Waltz = Winning
snitch robinson on Jun 8, 2011
8
This has got epic written all over it.
Cody W. on Jun 8, 2011
9
I like Will Smith, but my personal choice would be either Chiwetel Ejiofor or Idris Elba.
Craig on Jun 8, 2011
10
Chiwetel Ejiofor as in The Operative from Serenity? That is a fantastic casting choice! You win this comment section.
Captain Mal on Jun 8, 2011
11
Best username/comment combo in this section.
Anonymous on Jun 8, 2011
12
13
"DECENT PERFORMANCE OUT OF TUCKER?!" Okay, first of all Alex, Tucker was in "Jackie Brown" for like five or ten minutes. Second of all, he was just playing the same old wise crackin fuck up he has been playing for years. Oooooo, what a stretch!!! While I can appreciate your optimism on this and I do feel that if anybody could turn Tucker around its Tarantino, this film in my opinion is FAR too important to leave anything to chance.
Tuco on Jun 9, 2011
14
He can make me like any actor so I don't really care about the casting that much.. I sure would love to see Til Schweiger in this though!
Davide Coppola on Jun 8, 2011
15
I'd like to see Tom Cruise in this as Calvin
Face on Jun 8, 2011
16
Two words: HELL YES!
Xerxexx on Jun 8, 2011
17
Am I the only one that thinks Tarantino is a total douchebag?
ff on Jun 8, 2011
18
This movie keeps getting better and better and I would want will smith mainly because I don't know too much about the other actors, will smith is one of my favorite actors (right up there with leonardo dicaprio),and he hasn't been in anything lately. Also, seeing christoph waltz as a Nazi and once again directed by Tarantino, once again this movie keeps getting better and better.
Max S. on Jun 8, 2011
19
Tarantino ROCKS!!! I have faith in all that he cooks up.
Spider on Jun 8, 2011
20
this movie is just getting better and better, i can NOT wait!!!! this film is going to epic, tarantino + dicaprio + waltz + sam jackson! + whoever plays that black guy = awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rey on Jun 8, 2011
21
Sounds pretty epic.. but maybe Isaiah mustafa for lead?
Matt on Jun 10, 2011
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