Quentin Tarantino has proven time and time again throughout his career that he has absolutely fantastic casting sensibilities, and his upcoming western The Hateful Eight doesn't look like it will be breaking that tradition. The Academy Award-winning director has already brought together an amazing ensemble for the film, but today it looks like he's adding yet another notable name: Channing Tatum.
Deadline has the scoop on this story, reporting that the 22 Jump Street star is now "circling a major role" in the movie. Should he sign on, he will be joining a fantastic group of actors that already includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Walton Goggins, Denis Menochet, Bruce Dern and Jennifer Jason Leigh. At this point we don't have any idea which character he'll be playing, though you may notice at this point that Channing Tatum would be the ninth actor to sign on for the movie. This leads us to wonder who amongst these names won't be one of the eponymous "hateful."
Based on an original screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight is set in the west after the Civil War and begins centered on a bounty hunter named Major Marquis Warren (Jackson) who has captured a prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and is taking her in for a reward. Along their journey they join up with a few other travelers, but they are eventually forced off the road by a blinding blizzard, and wind up taking shelter in a haberdashery. In the store they come across a group of other people, and while most of the story is set in the one location, the drama unfolds as interpersonal conflicts between the characters heat up - all leading to an explosive finale. Going by the teaser trailer that was released in theaters with Sin City: A Dame To Kill For this past August, as well as the details that came out of the special live-read that was held this summer, it would seem all of the major roles are already taken, which naturally makes us wonder where Channing Tatum would fit into the story.
As one of the most popular actors in Hollywood today, Tatum has been quite busy as of late - but is using his new opportunities to work with some really great directors. We will very soon see the result of his collaboration with Bennett Miller, as Foxcatcher will be in limited release starting next Friday, and in just a few months we will get to see what he was able to do with sci-fi masters Andy and Lana Wachowski in Jupiter Ascendingf. He's also been tapped for a role in Joel and Ethan Coen's Hail Caesar, which will go into production next year, and will also soon be stepping into the X-Men universe playing the role of Gambit. Needless to say, he's having quite the enviable career moment right now.
The Hateful Eight will begin shooting before the end of the year in Colorado, and while an official release date has not yet been announced, it is expected that the final cut will be in theaters in 2015.
