MTV has the official word from actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper, Dark Knight Rises) that he is indeed dropping out of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained which settles the rumors. He was set to play one of the Australian slave-traders that originally kidnap and sell Django (Foxx) and Brunhilda (Washingting) to Calvin Candie (DiCaprio). Instead Joseph is embarking on his directorial debut with Don Jon's Addiction that he'll star alongside Scarlett Johansson. While this might be upsetting to both fans of Joe and Quentin alike it's likely he'll end up in another Tarantino film down the line.
This news strikes me similar to the original casting choice of Hans Landa set for Leonardo DiCaprio which also didn't pan out. Later, DiCaprio would sign on for the villainous role of Calvin Candie in Tarantino's southern Django Unchained. The role changed worked out for the better as Christoph Waltz earned and an Oscar with DiCaprio posed to possibly win one of his own depending on the performance given and critical reactions to it. There are plenty of future films Quentin wants to make and I wouldn't be shocked to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt offered some lead roles.
KILL BILL 3-4 (KILL KIDDO): The Kiddo saga hasn't been completely told as Quentin Tarantino is set to make two more installments. This time featuring Kiddo and Beebe on the wrong end of revenge ten years after the events of the second film. It's possible that Gordon-Levitt could end up playing the son of Bud or Bill seeking to kill Kiddo. Leading him to team-up with a grown-up Nikki, blind swordswoman (ala Zatoichi) Elle Driver and the surviving members of the Crazy 88s. There had been talk of the project either filming or being released in 2014.
GANGSTER PROJECT: Among the projects Tarantino was considering post-Inglourious Basterds was a re-imagining of a 1920-30s era "Pretty Boy Floyd" type gangster film. Echoing his love for Sergio Leone's Once Upon A Time In America, Brian De Palma's The Untouchables and a bunch of other classic gangster films from the genre. Seemingly this untitled film would be set in the United States likely around Chicago and New York. This seems like the best film to see JGL take a larger role in since it would be a rather large ensemble.
LEN DEIGHTON SPY TRILOGY: Quentin had been approached to direct Casino Royale only to turn it down because he wanted Pierce Brosnan back in the role of Bond. When the producers were eager to find a new Bond leading them to hire Daniel Craig and bring back Goldeneye director Martin Campbell. It had been reported that Tarantino was mulling over adapting Len Deighton's novels Berlin Game, Mexico Set and London Match into a trilogy of films. The massive success of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and it's sequel in development seems like the genre is prime for Quentin to give his own take on it.
He also stated that he'd love to work with UK actors like Kate Winslet, Simon Pegg, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Caine. Pegg had been originally been cast as British soldier Lt. Archie Hicox in Inglourious Basterds. Only to see the role go to Michael Fassbender when Pegg had to dropout himself. Considering JGL was going to use an Aussie accent in Django Unchained it's not much of a stretch to see him try a British one in these films.
"The story takes place in the Cold War and follows a spy name Bernard Samson. What is attractive is the really great characters and the wonderful opportunities of British and German casting."
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