We thought all of the wow moments were over. We thought, “Django Unchained casting is going to start settling down now.” Sure, there’d be a few additional players added to the list, but would we be really reveling over new actor announcements in regards to this movie anymore? Well, our cynicism be damned, because the latest individual to discuss joining Django might be the most gasp-inducing one yet: Sacha Baron Cohen.
Cohen is a fascinating figure in the Hollywood of today, and sort of a reversal of your standard “becoming a star” story. Cohen made a name for himself instantaneously with the creation of his own characters Ali G, Borat and Bruno, who gained popularity on his TV series Da Ali G Show, and then excelled in individual feature films, with Borat being the most culturally wowing. Ever since, Cohen has found his way into the films of some of the greatest directors around. He teamed up with Tim Burton in Sweeney Todd, with Martin Scorsese in the upcoming Hugo, and now, he’s in serious talks to join the Quentin Tarantino team for Django Unchained.
The brilliant thing about Cohen is, while he has very much a style and character of his own, how willingly and capably he adapts to the style of the films, actors and directors with whom he is working. Whereas some famed comic actors try and add their own flavor to other people’s films, Cohen seems more interesting in broadening his horizons and transforming very much into a product of his surroundings. And it is regularly to grand results.
So, three cheers for Cohen, Tarantino, and everyone else involved in Django: the film that just keeps getting better and better before we even see it.
Also starring in this masterfully cast film: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kurt Russell, Anthony LaPaglia, Don Johnson, Gerald McRaney, RZA, Misty Upham and like, forty-five other people (all AWESOME).
Source: Variety
