Quentin Tarantino has found his leading lady. The director has hired For Colored Girls star Kerry Washington to play Jamie Foxx’s long-suffering wife in Django Unchained. The period drama is headlined by Leonardo DiCaprio and centers on a ruthless plantation owner who kidnaps a former slave’s wife.
Foxx stars as Django, a slave-turned-bounty-hunter, who’s on a mission to rescue his ladylove Broomhilda (Washington) from the evil Calvin Candie (DiCaprio). According to Deadline, Washington was Tarantino’s first choice for the Broomhilda role but he wanted to weigh his options before making a final commitment. In the end, his long and tedious casting search eventually brought him back to the actress.
Washington previously worked with Jamie Foxx in 2004’s Ray, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The pair had amazing chemistry in the film, and Tarantino is hoping to capitalize on their established rapport.
Django Unchained is turning into a real ensemble piece complete with veteran actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Gerald McRaney and most recently Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Other actors who’ve yet to be confirmed but are rumored to star in Unchained include Don Johnson, Kurt Russell and Treat Williams.
Django Unchained is scheduled to open Dec. 25, 2012.