Has Tarantino wrangled his 'Django'? (DH, VAR, BIZ)

By Nancy Tartaglione

According to several reports, Jamie Foxx is either set, the frontrunner, or entering negotiations for the lead in Quentin Tarantino's upcoming "Django Unchained." The reports follow a Wednesday tweet by journalist Jeff Goldsmith who said insiders had indicated Tarantino has chosen Foxx for the part that was originally offered to Will Smith.

Foxx would play the title role of Django, a freed slave who teams with a German bounty hunter to take on an evil plantation owner in order to retrieve his long-lost love, Broomhilda.

Sources cautioned Risky Business that no offer has been made and that talks are in a delicate stage since Foxx has concerns about taking on the risky role.

DH:

The choice of Foxx is an inspired one. After transitioning from comedies to dramas, Foxx proved himself a formidable physical presence in films like Any Given Sunday, Collateral, Jarhead and Law Abiding Citizen, and has shown his acting chops there and in his Oscar-winning turn in Ray. Those facets are prerequisites for the role of Django. And Foxx can ride a horse, too.

Kerry Washington, says Variety, has met with Tarantino for the part of Broomhilda and is one of a handful of contenders in the mix.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson are also expected to star in key roles.

The Weinstein Co will distribute the film domestically with Sony handling overseas. Production is to start in November.