Will Smith, in an interview, told Entertainment Weekly, the Will Smith of magazines, “Django wasn’t the lead, so it was like, I need to be the lead. The other character was the lead!” Never mind that the film is called Django Unchained, and Django kills just about every bad guy in the film. But Will Smith wasn’t going to take “killing just about every bad guy in the film” for an answer. Remarkably, he goes on.

Smith then offers up that asked QT to rewrite the film to give him a bigger role with more action, including taking down the evil plantation owner Calvin Candie. “I was like, ‘No, Quentin, please, I need to kill the bad guy!’”

That last quote sounds just as appropriate as a toddler’s request for a preschool play as it does oozing from the mouth of Big Willie Style. (via A.V. Club)

Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network called for a national boycott Tuesday of the action figures – some of which are based on Jamie Foxx’s Django, Samuel L. Jackson’s Stephen, and Kerry Washington’s Broomhilda. “Selling this doll is highly offensive to our ancestors and the African American community,” Rev. K.W. Tulloss, NAN’s president in Los Angeles.

Najee Ali from Project Islamic Hope spoke alongside Tulloss in Los Angeles Tuesday and said, “I actually enjoyed the movie, but we cannot support this type of commercialization. I don’t seen any dolls representing Hitler that came from Tarantino’s (Holocaust movie Inglourious Basterds)…I don’t see them making dolls of Holocaust survivors who are bald and starving in concentration camps.”

To that point, it should be said that action figures are available for most Quentin Tarantino films including Basterds however Hitler and Holocaust survivors are not available. Nor were they when the Captain America toy line launched.

On one side of the issue, it’s crass and too soon. On the other side, it could be viewed as empowering to have a figure based on slave-turned-savior. Bottom line, the toys aren’t for everyone. If anyone is interested in giving them to their children, they do so with the responsibility of educating them about that period of American history. And also, don’t open them. They’re collector’s items now. (NY Daily News)

Gogo Yubari – Kill Bill

Often overlooked on QT superlative lists, how could she ever be missed? Gogo Yubari makes the list based solely on style and kitsch. The top assassin dresses like a schoolgirl, wields a spiked meteor hammer, and disembowels pervy businessmen. That leaves quite an impression with me.

Shosanna Dreyfus – Inglourious Basterds

The French-Jewish cinema owner who lost her family at the hands of Hans Landa bides her time and plots her revenge. She holds a deep hatred for Nazis and commits herself to their downfall. When a young SS soldier takes a liking to her, she uses this influence to lure the fascists into her trap. Melanie Laurent’s Shosanna is the backbone of Inglourious Basterds and the face of Jewish vengeance.

Mr. Blonde – Reservoir Dogs

Michael Madsen portrays Vincent Vega’s brother with a psychotic cool. Most famous for the scene that put Tarantino on the map, Vic Vega (aka Mr. Blonde) shows extreme cruelty while torturing Marvin the cop – all to the hip-swinging soundtrack of Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck In The Middle With You.” A song that is now synonymous with hacking off ears and dosing people with gasoline. Probably not Stealers Wheel’s intent when they wrote the song.

The Wolf – Pulp Fiction

In a film with so many great characters and strong performances, sometimes less is more. Amongst the cameos from Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, and Parker Lewis, stands out Harvey Keitel‘s unforgettable performance as “The Cleaner,” Mr. Wolf. When you’ve got a corpse in a car in a garage minus a head, who else can you depend on to solve that problem? I’m sure there are a handful of folks you can trust in that industry, but will they all show up wearing a tuxedo at 8:50am? No. That’s the Winston Wolfe difference.

Jules Winnfield – Pulp Fiction

You don’t get a wallet touting the status of “Bad Motherfucker” by not being a bad motherfucker. Well, I guess you could just buy one at Spencer’s Gifts but, c’mon. You wanna earn a distinction like that.

Pulp Fiction essentially introduced the world to Samuel L. Jackson and the world has been a better place since. Though he’s played many memorable roles since, the mushroom cloud-layin’, scripture-quoting hitman Jules Winnfield remains a standout. His delivery of Ezekiel 25:17 actually makes church seem awesome. Ball’s in your court, the Pope!

The Bride – Kill Bill

After Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman reteamed with Tarantino to help co-create his most ass-kicking character. Beatrix Kiddo aka Black Mambo aka The Bride awoke from a coma with a list and a mission — to kill her former boss and co-workers who put her in that state. The highly trained assassin, marksman, swordswoman and the self-proclaimed “most dangerous woman in the world” travels the world armed with Hanzo Steel, killing all who stand in her path. Including an entire dojo full of bloodthirsty Yakuza swordsmen.

Col. Hans Landa – Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino’s most engaging and memorable character to date. Brought to gleeful life by Christoph Waltz, the Jew Hunter exudes an easy charm that makes his existence grotesque and haunting. Yielding great power and an ever-turning mind, he injects terror and tension into something as everyday as adding creme to strudel.

We also get a look at Samuel L. Jackson outfitted to resemble Latter Years Louis Armstrong. Sadly, he doesn’t even attempt to do the voice.

“I came really close, it was one of the most amazing screenplays I had ever ever seen. I was in the middle of ‘Men in Black 3‘ and [Tarantino] was ready to go, and I just couldn’t sit with him and get through the issues, so I didn’t want to hold him up. That thing’s going to be ridiculous. It is a genius screenplay.”

So Smith chalks up his declining to do the film to a scheduling conflict (and some undisclosed “issues” with the screenplay). We’ll probably never know if this was the REAL reason or if Smith is just being charitable, but at least now we can buy our tickets to Django Unchained secure in the knowledge that the screenplay has the Will Smith Stamp of Approval. I’ve seen movies for less. (The Playlist)

Looks great but minus points awarded for lack of dog-riding.

Hang on. I’m not done clarifying.

Jennifer Aniston and Dennis Quaid are likely going to star in the film based on The Switch, which is now titled simply Switch, because Jennifer Aniston was already in a movie called The Switch.

Ok. Now a few words on the plot. Switch will focus on a husband (Quaid) who refuses to pay the ransom for his wife (Aniston) who he doesn’t want back. Aniston teams up with the kidnappers for revenge.

I regret there isn’t more room for snark in this article, but I just had to cram this thing so full of facts and clarifications. Soon, though. Soon.

“Quentin Tarantino’s official Top 11 of 2011

1. Midnight In Paris
2. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
3. Moneyball
4. The Skin I Live In
5. X-Men: First Class
6. Young Adult
7. Attack The Block
8. Red State
9. Warrior
10. The Artist / Our Idiot Brother (tie)
11. The Three Musketeers

Others considered in no particular order

50/50
Beginners
Hugo
The Iron Lady
Carnage
Green Hornet
Green Lantern
Captain America
The Descendants
My Week With Marilyn
Fast Five
The Tree Of Life
The Hangover Part II
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
The Beaver
Contagion
The Sitter
War Horse

Nice Try Award

Drive
Hanna
Drive Angry
Real Steel

Best Director

Pedro Almodovar
Bennett Miller
Woody Allen
Jason Reitman
Michel Hazanavicius

Best Original Screenplay

Midnight In Paris
Young Adult
Red State
Attack The Block
Our Idiot Brother
Beginners

Best Adapted Screenplay

Moneyball
The Skin I live In
Carnage
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Hugo
X-Men: First Class

Worst Films

Sucker Punch
Potiche (Trophy Wife)
Miral
Insidious
Rampart
Straw Dogs
Paranormal Activity 3
Meek’s Cutoff”

Wait, The Three Musketeers!? Does this mean I actually have to go watch that movie now?? Cool that he repped for Green Lantern, since I thought that movie was better than most people said it was. Anyway, I’m sure most writers will just say Tarantino was jealous of Drive or something like that, and why go against the tide? Quentin Tarantino was jealous of Drive. Or something like that. (The Playlist)

Cohen would play Scotty, a gambler that buys Django‘s wife for companionship. The way Tarantino works, I can’t imagine that things will work out too well for ole’ Scotty. Well, no better than they did for Zed or the Gimp in Pulp Fiction, anyway.

This move would add Cohen to a cast which features Jamie Foxx, Cristoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kurt Russell, Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar comin’!), Don Johnson, and RZA. What a fun bunch!

Coming out next for the comedian-going-straighter is Martin Scorsese‘s Hugo, then The Dictator, which is supposedly in the vein of Borat and Bruno. Way to expand your horizons, funnyboy.

Boardwalk Empire and The Wire star Michael K. Williams announced last week that although he failed to win the lead, Quentin Tarantino might be writing a role for him in the slavery western. Williams remarked, “I’m going to dare to say it’s going to go.” However, noting how non-official that sounds he went on to say, “Yes, I’ve been given a timeline. January through April. I’ve been given some dates when he’s going to want me to work, but I haven’t gotten the official word yet.”

That makes it sound like it is likely to go through. January through April. Mark it down. That’s our window to move product on the streets. (AICN)

As of right now, the truth remains a mystery but we believe the reasons outlined below are all plausible.

The Pulp Fiction star has signed on to re-team with Quentin Tarantino on Django Unchained. The action focuses on Jamie Foxx playing a freed slave who trains with Christoph Waltz‘s bounty hunter to rescue his wife from the villainous slave owner played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Jackson will play Stephen, “a house slave and the right-hand man of a sadistic slavemaster.” There’s no word yet on what crazy hairstyle he will wear in the film, but given that this is a Tarantino project, expectations are pretty high that it will be hilarious-looking. (Variety)

Well, pretty much anyone can portray Frankenstein. I could get a Golden Globe nod for my performance if the director just gave me three Xanax, a 1″ lift in my right shoe, and a burn on the roof of my mouth with a Bagel Bite just out of the oven. So with the playing field being equal, it comes down to looks.

“What has two thumbs and sort of looks like Frankenstein? These guys!”

Truthfully, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Trejo was missing a thumb.

9. Matt Dillon

He may be in a tie with #8 for the best-looking guy on this list, but still Frankenstein-esque. He also speaks with a deep enough voice that when I’m watching Wild Things while writing (which is most days), I sometimes get startled and need to look up to reassure myself that Denise Richards and Neve Campbell aren’t having a threeway with Frankenstein, because that would just drive me up the wall with sexiness.

8. David Boreanz

Photo generously on loan from the Penn Collins private collection.

Bones could be Frankenstein. I’m aware that Bones is actually the girl on the show of the same name, but it’s just easier for me if I call everyone on that show Bones, as it prevents me from having to learn anything about the show Bones.

7. Danny Trejo

Danny Trejo looks like he has been stitched together a la Frankenstein, complete with baseball glove-type skin. I don’t think Frankenstein had a tattoo on his chest, but the news of Levy’s attachment doesn’t say when the film is set. 2011 Frankenstein in Williamsburg, Brooklyn could totally have a chest tattoo.

“Frankenstein need pick up American Spirits before Frankenstein go ironic barbecue.”

Sadly, I thought that “henchman” would mean some generic bad guy along the lines of the F.O.O.T. Soldiers in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I mean, he played a dead body in The Big Chill, so he’s clearly not in acting for the glory.

Time has shown that it’s not wise to second-guess Tarantino’s casting choices, as no one would have answered “John Travolta” when asked who the best choice to play a hit man would be for Pulp Fiction. This news leaves Django‘s wife, Broomhilda, as the one big outstanding role. It sounds like Kerry Washington is no longer in the running, so expect maybe Harvey Keitel or Tim Roth to step up. (Deadline)

Foxx will join Christoph Waltz, who plays his friend and mentor and Leonardo DiCaprio, who will serve as Calvin Candle, a sadistic slavemaster.

While this is a huge opportunity for Foxx (Tarantino always serves as a great opportunity for everyone), I’m having trouble picturing him as a grizzled slave the same way I could Elba or Smith. However, one of the best aspects of QT’s films are their ability to transform familiar faces and names into something you had never imagined. We will soon see if Foxx can keep that streak alive as Django.

Needless to say, I’m extremely excited for this film and can’t see it turning out nothing short of fantastically awesome superwow. In fact Weinstein Co., just go ahead and pull that quote now for your posters and bus ads. (BoxOfficeMojo)

Leo’s All-Time Greatest Spazzouts

Tarantino almost nabbed DiCaprio for Landa in Inglorious Basterds, as the actor was interested in the role early on. The talks didn’t pan out that time, but perhaps second time’s a charm? (Deadline)

Former Creative Screenwriting Senior Editor Jeff Goldsmith tweeted: “Casting Rumor: Leonardo DiCaprio WILL play villain Calvin Candie in Tarantino’s Django Unchained! QT wanted him for I.B. & now has him!”

Many are inclined to believe Goldsmith based off the fact he tipped the hat that Will Smith was in talks to join the film (though his participation may have fallen through when it was decided that Jayden would not be allowed to play a ninja or something cool like that). So, as of right now, consider this all speculative, though it would be nice to see DiCaprio share screen time with Hollywood legend, Treat Williams. (via The Playlist)

Having one of the biggest meetings of my professional life today…meeting a very controversial director for a very controversial part. :-/

On the plane to the destination of my fate…..ok…. a lil dramatic….destination of my life..?

6 photosNew ‘Thor’ Character Posters Are Like Mugshots Of The Gods

Django Unchained is Tarantino’s follow-up to Inglorious Basterds, a spaghetti Western about the team-up of a slave and a German bounty hunter, who search for the slave’s wife and together take on an evil plantation owner. Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz are apparently also in talks for major roles, as the house slave to the plantation villain and the bounty hunter, respectively. No surprises with those names. They’re regular Tarantino pal-arounds.

Though Smith is Tarantino’s top choice, no official deal has been made, and the money-factor could be a problem. Smith commands giant, novelty-sized checks for his movies, and rightfully so, as he’s one of the few stars today you can really bank on. Still, Tarantino would save money if he gets Smith’s “Willenium Package,” which includes his acting services, the acting services of his two children, and a radio-friendly end credits rap.

I bet there’s some furious number crunching going on in the Weinstein Co.’s accounting department right now. (Hollywood Reporter)

Twitter user @agenttrainee twote the picture below, which is supposedly the cover page of Tarantino’s new western. Django Unchained sounds like a jazz album somebody recommended to be in college, but I never listened to. The film will definitely star Christoph Waltz and has been described as a spaghetti western. That much we know for sure, not that I don’t trust all news stories broken on Twitter. (/Film)

“I think he has a script ready to start of a new film, A Southern, I think it’s really exciting. It’s another new story and a fresh piece of material that he is channeling at the moment. So I think Kill Bill lives down the road.”

Earlier, Tarantino confirmed that he had completed a draft of his slavery-centric spaghetti western. Whereas his previous screenplays has taken a long time to complete, this one “just flowed out of him.” Despite best efforts by the “exotic bird menagerie” to stifle his creativity with their “obnoxious pteradactyl-like screams.” (via Hollywood Outbreak and The Playlist)

It turns out that they are next door neighbors, and Ball’s pet birds are too loud for Quentin to concentrate. Which is weird because Quentin always seems to have laser-like focus. Tarantino claims in the lawsuit that the “obnoxious pteradactyl-like screams” coming from Ball’s “exotic bird menagerie” have “seriously disrupted [his] ability to work as a writer in his home.”

He’s tried to settle with Ball in the past but to no avail. Seriously though, shut those birds up. They’re standing in the way of Quentin’s process. He can’t drink absinthe out of ladies shoes while wearing a gimp mask with all that racket going on. And how are forgotten stars of the 70′s and 80′s supposed to deliver Oscar-winning monologues if he is too distracted to write them? Treat Williams has waited long enough, dammit. (THR)

The as-yet nameless script is a Western that Tarantino has wanted to create for several years, however, expect it to transcend genre convention in the same ways Inglorious Basterds and Kill Bill did. That’s about all we know to expect from this project, so as usual, prepare to be surprised.

According to Deadline, the reason for the quick turnaround here is simple: the script just wasn’t as difficult for the auteur to write. Huh. Fair enough. His last films took far longer to develop so what that means for the final product of his current effort is anyone’s guess.

Now what’s the over/under on Sam Jackson as a bad-ass vengeful slave?

The news comes via Italian actor Franco Nero. He says:

“Boomba clot, rude boy-a. People been axing me abow dis movie mon, and I..”

Hold on. Sorry. My Italian always sound Jamaican for some reason. Let’s try again:

“The film will be called The Angel, The Bad And The Wise and is a tribute to Sergio Leone. It’s a movie that contains humor, lots of action, but also a great plot. We have already been signed by a dozen people who will be part of project. Among the filmmakers involved include Quentin Tarantino, Keith Carradine, Treat Williams, fifteen people in all Americans who want to do this movie and so we are trying to produce it outside of Italy.”

Muuuuch better. This project sounds like it has promise. Further casting will the decider here so I’ve definitely got my fingers crossed. In my experience, when Quentin Tarantino wears a cowboy hat, bad things happen. (Movie Player via The Playlist)

The director has said that he’s had designs on the “single film” avenue since Kill Bill‘s inception, as he had originally cut the O-Ren anime sequence since, at its original runtime of 20 minutes, it may have felt bloated in what he thought was going to be a singular feature. Well, apparently those concerns have waned, as QT worked with Asian anime studio Production IG recently to further develop that scene, which will be included in Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair next month. The extended scene will focus on O-Ren’s elaborate revenge on the man who killed her father. Beyond that, Tarantino had said that he’s not going to touch any other aspects of the film, though those comments were made two years ago, so it’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not he adhered to that statement.

Screenings will begin on March 27th, though it’s possible that the The Whole Bloody Affair will be screened by Ain’t It Cool News during SXSW a couple weeks earlier. Distribution and scale of the the screenings is not yet known (only the New Beverly Cinema in LA has been explicitly included), but don’t let that stop you from haphazardly tossing about wild conjecture. It’s the Internet, after all. (Playlist)