First Look At Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz & Jamie Foxx In 'Django Unchained'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
April 26, 2012 8:01 AM
25 Comments

We already know that Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" is going to be something special. Centering on slavery and vengeance, but delivering through the conventions of a spaghetti western in a way that only Tarantino knows how, there are few films this year taking as big a risk. And if these first official images from the film indicate anything, it's that the pay off could be something truly memorable.

EW has got the goods, delivering fresh images of Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx, as the bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz and the slave Django, respectively, who pair up to rescue the latter's wife, Broomhilda, from the clutches of the plantation owner Calvin Candie, played by a debonair-looking Leonardo DiCaprio. “Candie is a business man who owns a plantation called Candie Land, and that’s where my wife ends up being,” Foxx explains, adding that to help track down his wife, “...we have to get in good with Candy, by me playing a valet for Christoph’s character.”

“Christoph’s character is a little aloof to what slavery actually is. He’s not familiar with everything, and when he sees atrocities, it’s Greek to him,” Foxx elaborates about his onscreen partner in crime. “But Django lets him know this is the way the world is and we got to get used to it. He teaches Django certain things he needs to become a whole man, and [Django] also teaches Christoph that when life deals you these cards, here’s what you’ve got to do.”

A hammer-wielding DiCaprio? An aloof and dapper bounty hunter? Yeah, okay, we're in. "Django Unchained" opens on Christmas Day.

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More: Django Unchained, Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio

25 Comments

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Donella | May 4, 2012 3:57 PMReply

Will Smith doesn't play support. He plays lead. Though Django is the title character, a close read of the script reveals Django is not the lead character. Several people including Chris Tucker, Idris Elba, Michael K. Williams, Kevin Costner, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jonah Hill read the script, realized Tarantino's limitations as a writer, then found "scheduling conflicts" that had greater priority than Mandingo (de Laurentis, 1975) pulp trash.
Donella | May 14, 2012 12:03 PM

Those non-disclosure agreements that have been signed allow Tarantino/Weinstein the authority to spin the propaganda around "Mandingo with a German Dentist" to their favor. Spin, spin, spin. But now Kurt Russell and Sasha Baron Cohen have also walked away from trash and I congratulate them for recognizing Django Unchained for what it really is--a big pile. You cannot give someone a heap of shit and try to call it sugar. You cannot piss in someone's face and try to tell them it's rain. The smell of it reeks through in an awful, penetrating way every single time.
a | May 4, 2012 4:35 PM

Unlikely. That theory could only apply to Costner and Hill. Chris Tucker, Idris Elba, and Michael K. Williams were turned down by Tarantino, not the other way around, and the first two were up for the role of Django. Williams was up for that role too, but Tarantino was supposedly considering writing him a different role. Gordon-Levitt read the script and apparently liked it enough to sign on to do the film, later realizing he had to bow out. Due to actual scheduling conflicts. As for Jonah Hill turning down a gig like this after "realizing Tarantino's limitations as a writer," pretty silly.
JD | May 2, 2012 2:13 AMReply

Will Smith has really lost his touch, passing on this for MIB3 is ridiculous, after all these years he's still trying to be a movie star rather than playing more roles with a depth of character in any case his loss is Jamie Foxx's gain and he should do a solid job. It will be interesting to see how Leo goes as a villian having always portrayed heroes.
Greg | April 29, 2012 5:06 PMReply

It would be nice to see Leo to try something that isnt serious thriller/drama for once, seems like he needs to relax in some comedic role.
Bob | April 28, 2012 8:47 PMReply

Ok, first thought seeing Leo with that facial hair and outfit... Ming the merciless. not sure why... anyone else?
Oogle monster | April 28, 2012 9:29 AMReply

If Leo doesn't get an Oscar for this... well, then the kid might as well give up. Villain, supporting role, 180 from normal roles... Oscar bait at its finest and you know what, I really dig it.
Penny | April 26, 2012 5:54 PMReply

Will Smith is the one who turned it down, don't blame Jamie for having better taste than Will.
Lucy | April 26, 2012 2:43 PMReply

Great!!! I can't wait to see Leo play a villain. And Christoph waltz is so damn sexy.
JORDAN | April 26, 2012 12:54 PMReply

Jamie Foxx is a fine actor and probably one of the most talent men in Hollywood when you count his comedic ability, his musical talent, and his dramatic acting skills (Collateral, Ray). He will be great in this. Even though I wanted Will Smith
JORDAN | April 26, 2012 12:55 PM

But then again looking at the Costume, if Will Smith was in this all I would be thinking about is WILD WILD WEST(vomit in my mouth).
Dean | April 26, 2012 12:38 PMReply

If every one of the costumes on the film is as good as Leo's then this could be a big contender for Costume Design this year
a | April 26, 2012 11:56 AMReply

These commenters... Jamie Foxx is a very good actor, regardless of how uncool he happens to be at the moment. No, he's not Tom Hardy or Michael Fassbender or Ryan Gosling or DiCaprio or one of the other white dudes that people of the Internet happen to want to fangirl over this year.
a | April 26, 2012 5:54 PM

Do you remember what the comments looked like when Will Smith was offered the role? And I wasn't really trying to imply prejudice by saying "white dudes." It just so happens that 99% of the people Internet commenters don't seem to miss an opportunity to praise these days are white. Despite Smith's box office prowess, he's not one of those people.
Zack | April 26, 2012 5:49 PM

"Maybe some people really wanted Will Smith and think that he was a better fit than Foxx, thats all."
Oh, please, you'd be bitching no matter who it was and you know it.
B | April 26, 2012 5:16 PM

love how you say: "WHITE DUDES". Maybe some people really wanted Will Smith and think that he was a better fit than Foxx, thats all. It has nothing to do with skin color.
natalia | April 26, 2012 8:34 AMReply

this is going to be huge!
leon | April 26, 2012 8:30 AMReply

Jamie fox looks out of place. I knew he was going to ruin this movie. Bad casting. Quentin you're losing it buddy
eugenie de franval | April 26, 2012 1:21 PM

The casting that bothered me was DiCaprio, honestly, but ever since Travolta, I've always had faith that Tarantino knows what he's doing. Also, Jaimie Foxx > Will Smith.
Zack | April 26, 2012 9:26 AM

Hey, look, it's a guy saying the same thing people said about every bit of "Inglourious Basterds" casting news.
Ron | April 26, 2012 9:20 AM

Gotta love knee jerk, lets judge a film on one still reactions. And yea he must be losing his touch, you know with his last film being a critical and financial success.
Huffy | April 26, 2012 8:50 AM

Armchair casting director says that actor looks out-of-place based on a single frame=established director loosing his touch/talent? Only on the internet.
cirkusfolk | April 26, 2012 8:45 AM

His facial expression looks like he's still in Collateral.
Brad | April 26, 2012 8:24 AMReply

I can't wait for this. I love the idea of Dicaprio playing a straight up villain, especially in a Tarantino production.
Eclectic Fan | April 26, 2012 11:31 AM

If I had shown a year before Pulp Fiction was released a still photo of J Travolta with strange looking long hair and S.L.Jackson with a bad "Jerri curl wig" the one thing that no one would of said was ..............."looks like a great film" (which it was) , .......in fact the opposite may have been said..........................You cannot tell anything from a snap shot. So, lets just wait until we see the entire film before passing judgement. I for one always look forward to QT films with great anticipation.