Stuntman Mike rides again!
Kurt Russell is set to reunite with his "Death Proof" director, Quentin Tarantino, for the southern-flavored western, "Django Unchained," according to Heat Vision.
Russell will be playing the role of Ace Woody, the head slave driver of the notorious ranch run by the ruthless plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Ace delights in punishing slaves in the most brutal way possible and literally whipping them into shape to compete in death matches staged for the sick pleasure of other rich white Confederate flag-wavers.
Kevin Costner was set to play Ace but dropped out earlier this month, supposedly over scheduling conflicts with another western, "The Hatfields and the McCoys." Hey, if you can't get one actor who once played Wyatt Earp, you find another!
We were looking forward to seeing Costner in this role, but it will be a blast to watch Russell play his second psycho villain for Tarantino. The dynamic between Russell, DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson as the ranch's majordomo should be a deliciously evil and entertaining one.
Kurt Russell will next be seen in the sports fantasy, "Touchback," and in "Waco," a dramatization of the ATF's 1993 face-off with Texas cult leader David Koresh. Both films will be released sometime next year.
"Django Unchained" will hit theaters on Dec. 25, 2012.
