‘Bastards’ and Bitches Lining Up for QT

As anticipated, casting news is coming in like a torrent on Quentin Tarantino’s Nazi kill-fest Inglorious Bastards. The big scoop today? Well we know you’ve got a big appetite so how about a few? First, Brad Pitt has officially signed on to lead the Bastards as Tennessean Lt. Aldo Raine ending weeks of speculation.  Not only is this Pitt’s first real foray into the Tarantinoverse (Floyd from True Romance not withstanding), it also marks his first production with Universal following their messy row after the actor dropped out of the upcoming political thriller State of Play. See, even in Hollywood people can kiss and make up – especially when millions of dollars are involved.

Also officially jumping onboard the film is veteran actress Nastassja Kinski playing the role of German starlet Bridget Von Hammersmark. Many had assumed that the filmmaker would tap his self-confessed muse Uma Thurman for the part, but instead he went with another QT staple – resurrecting a classic actor. Her casting also brings some international flare to the project which has been the director’s intention.

David Krumholtz, currently starring in Numb3rs on CBS, is in talks to play one of the Bastards, making him the third puzzling choice for the gang following Eli Roth and the rumored B.J. Novak (the current jailed state of his character on The Office should free him up nicely). Seriously, these guys are supposed to be badass mofo’s who kill with pleasure… how do either of these three fit that mold? Is this supposed to be a comedy because that’s all I’m seeing out of those guys. Oh and did I mention Simon Pegg is being wooed to play Lt. Archie Hicox, a non-Bastard Brit officer who helps Raine and Co. scalp their way across the countryside? The role had been attributed to Tim Roth for years but he will unfortunately be unable to be in the film due to his commitments starring in the new TV series Lie to Me. Though given his proposed replacement, he probably wasn’t funny enough. The big question is has Bill Murray been approached, and if not, when?

One last bit of news that seems to have been buried in all of this casting business: Lawrence Bender, who had produced all of Tarantino’s films prior to Death Proof, is once again working with the director. You may remember it was announced that the two had ended their working relationship right around the premiere of Sin City in 2005. Their reunion is welcome news in my book and should be getting more ink. He may be the only man that can keep the gregarious one in check.

Yet to be cast are the other two major roles in the picture: Jewish survivor-girl Shoshanna Dreyfus and menacing Colonel Hans “The Jew Hunter” Landa. Casting should be complete in a week or two according to Bender so it won’t be too long before we know all.