Has Quentin Tarantino found his lead for his next film, Django Unleashed, in Jamie Foxx? It is certainly appearing that way.
Originally, Will Smith was the favored choice for the role of a freed slave who seeks vengeance against a southern plantation owner who still holds the ex-slave’s wife. It now seems that he has passed on the project, with some theorizing that he doesn’t want anything to do with any Weinstein Company production due to their involvement with the Paul Tomas Anderson film The Master, which takes some shots at Scientology.
Idris Elba was also said to be in contention for the role should Smith pass. However, Elba just signed to be the lead in Guillermo Del Toro’s next film Pacfic Rim, leaving the field wide open for Foxx.
It should be noted that the role is not definitely Foxx’s yet. The Hollywood Reporter is quoting sources saying that “no offer has been made and that talks are in a delicate stage since Foxx has concerns about taking on the risky role.”
If Foxx joins the cast, he’ll find himself in the company of Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.