Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz & Leonardo DiCaprio Feature In First Images From Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Django Unchained’

Entertainment Weekly has premiered these first two images from Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming flick ‘Django Unchained,’ a Sergio Leone inspired spaghetti western. In ‘Django Unchained,’ Jamie Foxx plays the title role of Django, a slave who is liberated and taught the tricks of the trade by a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz). Django’s real desire is to be reunited with his wife (Kerry Washington), who winds up in a variety of unsavory places and whose travails drive the plot. It leads to a confrontation in Candyland, a ranch owned by the notorious Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Accompanying the two images from for the film are quotes from Jamie Foxx, the films lead star. Asked whether ’Django Unchained’ will be controversial? Foxx replied “Oh, hell yeah. You kidding me?” The Oscar-winner describes his character as “Richard Roundtree meets Clint Eastwood.” On the topic of Django’s evolving relationship with Christoph Waltz’s Schultz, Foxx revealed, “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. 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.”

‘Django Unchained’ also stars Tarantino regular Samuel L. Jackson, who plays the role of Rodney, Calvin Candie’s valet who keeps the slaves in line at Candie’s residence. The likes of Gerald McRaney, RZA, Dennis Christopher, Kurt Russell, Sacha Baron Cohen, Laura Cayouette, Laura Cayouette, Tom Savini, M.C. Gainey, Misty Upham, and Don Johnson will co-star. The film will pay homage to the Sergio Corbucci original ‘Django,’ Takashi Miike’s ‘Sukiyaki Western Django,’ which features Tarantino, and Elmore Leonard’s novel ’40 Lashes Less One.’ My hopes are ridiculously high for this film, Tarantino + spaghetti western = YES PLEASE! ’Django Unchained’ is set for release December 25th in the US and January 18th, 2013 in the UK. Check out the official synopsis for the film below.

 Set in the South two years before the Civil War, “Django Unchained” stars Academy Award®-winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award®-winner Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive.

Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways. Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago.

Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Academy Award®-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation where slaves are groomed by trainer Ace Woody (Kurt Russell) to battle each other for sport. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Academy Award®-nominee Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. Their moves are marked, and a treacherous organization closes in on them. If Django and Schultz are to escape with Broomhilda, they must choose between independence and solidarity, between sacrifice and survival…

Written and directed by Academy Award®-winner Quentin Tarantino, DJANGO UNCHAINED is produced by Stacey Sher, Pilar Savone and Reginald Hudlin. The executive producers are Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Michael Shamberg, Shannon McIntosh, and James Skotchdopole. DJANGO UNCHAINED will be released in the U.S. on December 25, 2012, and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International.