Leonardo DiCaprio in early talks to play the villain in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained

In what could turn out to be incredibly intriguing casting, superstar Leonardo DiCaprio (INCEPTION) is said to be entering official talks for the role of villain ‘Calvin Candie’ in Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED.

According to Deadline, it seems that A-lister DiCaprio’s potential involvement in the project is much more likely than that of A-lister Will Smith (MEN IN BLACK III), Tarantino’s initial lead candidate for the film’s title role. As Mike Fleming puts it, “The courtship of Smith for the role of Django has gone on for so long that I’m persuaded it has become a long shot. At this point, I’ve heard alternative names that include Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx and Chris Tucker.” While my gut has been screaming out “Stringer F*cking Bell!” from the get-go, the idea of two Hollywood A-list superstars going head-to-head at the direction of Quentin Tarantino is just too damn intriguing to dismiss. Unfortunately, if the rumblings at Deadline are true, then we probably won’t be seeing that sort of pairing.

Meanwhile, as has been previously rumored, perennial QT motherf*cker Samuel L. Jackson is expected to star in the film as well, playing the role of ‘Stephen’, valet to Calvin Candie who helps keep slaves in line at the villain’s residence. Also, Christoph Waltz is once again said to be likely playing the film’s German dentist-turned-bounty hunter who teaches Django the art of asskickery.

Nothing has yet been written in stone (and even if was… remember back when Warren Beatty was originally going to play ‘Bill’ in KILL BILL?) but the casting talk is interesting nevertheless, particularly in regards to the names now being tossed around for the title role. Weigh in below and let us know what you think!