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I Heard a Rumor (Yes, I Am Ashamed to Use a Bananarama Lyric): Idris Elba up for Tarantino's Django?

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (26)

idrise.jpg

If you dream it, it will come (to fruition)? Who knew? The interwebtastical, mouse-driven Rumor Mill is in full gear this morning, after actor Idris Elba (Thor, RocknRolla “The Big C, Luther, The Wire”) took to tweeting about an a mysterious meeting:

“Having one of the biggest meetings of my professional life today…meeting a very controversial director for a very controversial part.”

and later,

“I wish I could tell you more but…in due time. On the plane to the destination of my fate…..ok…. a lil dramatic….destination of my life..?”

I certainly wasn’t the only speculator whose mind immediately went to Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming spaghetti western styled, slavery revenge film, Django Unchained; my heart did a little leap. Christoph Waltz has already been cast as the German bounty hunter/assassin who goes on a journey with freed slave, Django, to track down and rescue his enslaved wife. Last week, I chose to ignore the “news” that Will Smith was first in line to play Django, terrified that it might actually be true. (No, Tarantino! No!) It’s not that Smith couldn’t (possibly?) handle the part, but rather that he’s just wrong for it. And perhaps the director heard the collective cries of despair across the webosphere, perhaps his people heard our people and he decided to set up this fated meeting? Clearly Elba and his gravitas, his ability to convey emotions without a single word and his soulful eyes belong in this film.

According to The Playlist, the role of Stephen, a slave who works for the plantation owner who is keeping Django’s wife, has been offered to Samuel L. Jackson.

So, is Idris Elba meeting with Tarantino about starring as Django, or perhaps, did Jackson decline and Elba is up for that part? Though we can only continue to speculate for the time being, I can’t imagine those tweets were over anything less than a lead role. So I’m going to do a little version of a rain dance around my house—but in this case, we’ll call it a please-let-Idris-be-Django dance—and you do a little dance around your house; we’ll get this thing done.

Just imagine Christoph Waltz and Idris Elba sharing the big screen and kicking ass. And if that’s not enough speculative fuel to get you through the evening, there’s yet another rumor floating around today, started by a Jeff Goldsmith tweet, that Leonardo DiCaprio may be cast as the villain, Calvin Candie, a plantation owner and former slaveoner of Django.









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Comments

Sweet! Now lets use the site's powers to prevent any more re-imaginings, remakes, etc.

Posted by: Paultera at May 31, 2011 5:18 PM

You mention in many posts how fond you are of Britney but you're ashamed to use a Bananarama lyric? Explain, please.

Posted by: PaddyDog at May 31, 2011 5:19 PM

Britney? Have you gone mad, Paddy? I think you're confusing me with someone else.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 5:34 PM

Yeah, I may be confusing you with Courtney. But why the Banarama hate? How else would you have known how to cut up your sweatshirts in 80s?

Posted by: PaddyDog at May 31, 2011 5:37 PM

They're monotone Barbies who sing songs about Robert De Niro talking Italian! Yak!

I never cut my sweatshirts. I was clad in black, crying and singing along with Moz.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 5:55 PM

Cindy,

Have you read the script, or are you only going by descriptions of it online?

Just curious because I finished it this weekend and it was amazing. Wondering what you thought.

Posted by: sean at May 31, 2011 5:55 PM

Also, dresses with combat boots.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 5:55 PM

Only read descriptions, you lucky dog. The Playlist says it's great.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 5:56 PM

Tarantino directing Elba would be mega-cool.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at May 31, 2011 6:00 PM

I just finished "Luther" this weekend (thanks Netflix Streaming!), and it is a really, really great show. I haven't watched "The Wire" *ducks head in shame* so I had no idea how fantastic Idris Elba is, and he was absolutely amazing as John Luther.

Anyone else watched this show?

Posted by: tbean at May 31, 2011 6:07 PM

Love and adore him as Luther.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 6:10 PM

Please, please, please let this be true. He was great on The Wire but Luther is just sensational in every way and he's what makes the show (it's on instant Netflix.. watch it right now).

Posted by: beckster at May 31, 2011 6:13 PM

I pictured Elba as I read the script, and he is perfect as Django. Will Smith not so much. I think he can carry a lead just fine, but like you say, just not this one. For someone who likes to do movies his kids can enjoy, this ain't it. There's obviously going to be some gruesome and raw scenes when you deal with a Tarantino film taking place during the era of slaves in the South.

Rumor was Tarantino wrote Schultz's character for DiCaprio in the first place, but reworked it for Waltz after he passed on it. Which is what I heard he did on Hans Landa's character in Inglorious Basterds too.

I could see Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen, not Elba though. Elba has to be up for Django. Not sure yet on how I feel about DiCaprio playing Candie. It doesn't bother me, but I'm still trying to picture how ruthless he could be in a role.

Posted by: sean at May 31, 2011 6:25 PM

I think it's high time we see Leo go super-dark. Heck, I never would have pictured Brad Pitt in a Tarantino film and there he was.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 7:14 PM

I definitely saw Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen while I was reading the script. And Will Smith would RUIN IT. RUIN. Idris would be awesome. He has the range to play Django whereas Will Smith can only be Will Smith trying to play another character.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at May 31, 2011 7:34 PM

But Moz and the Bananarama girls were pals. They were all Thatcher-hating and hung out with The Specials and did benefits for the miners.

Posted by: PaddyDog at May 31, 2011 8:05 PM

He's much kinder than me.

Posted by: Cindy at May 31, 2011 8:06 PM

I do like me some Idris Elba however he's just too big for the part(still better than Mr Smith). Michael K Williams on the other hand...

Posted by: feelsgoodman at May 31, 2011 8:55 PM

Idris Elba is one of the most handsome men I've ever seen but he takes horrible photos. I was trying to find one to show a friend and none of them do him justice. This header picture proves my point.

Posted by: snapnhiss at May 31, 2011 9:14 PM

Idris Elba should be in everything ever from now until we work him to his inevitable death. Whenever I turn on my television or sit down in a movie theater I want to see Idris Elba, because the alternative is nothing short of obscene. He is near the top of my (very short) gay list. That is, the list of men I would have gay sex with if the opportunity presented itself. Idris is like right under Batman. Idris would probably be more gentle.

Posted by: AngelArm45 at May 31, 2011 11:25 PM

"Idris Elba should be in everything ever from now until we work him to his inevitable death."

Did you even mean to demand Elba be our slave in a discussion about how perfect he'd be to play a slave? Either way, that was wonderfully meta.

Also, if it turns out that Elba was referring to something else entirely, I will never forgive the internet for the devastating effect that would have on my ability to ever be excited again.

Posted by: Steve at June 1, 2011 4:51 AM

so say we all

Posted by: splinter at June 1, 2011 8:33 AM

Uwe Boll. Uwe Boll is who he met with and Idris is up for a role in Postal 2. very controversial

Posted by: asdff at June 1, 2011 2:27 PM

I could be wrong but I just don't see Q giving this role to a non-African American.

Posted by: sosgemini at June 3, 2011 2:08 AM

Christoph Waltz isn't a villain! Alright!

Posted by: ChristianH at June 6, 2011 1:24 PM

Leonardo DiCaprio is a villain? Alright!

Posted by: ChristianH at June 6, 2011 1:25 PM