It looked for a time that Quentin Tarantino was looking to cast bigger names for his upcoming Western, The Hateful Eight, than he had during last year's live table read. The main female role of Daisy Domergue was played at the time by Amber Tamblyn, but she was not asked back for the film and rumors had Tarantino wanting Jennifer Lawrence for the role. But that didn't happen, and now he's gone back in another direction and chosen the vastly unappreciated Jennifer Jason Leigh.
According to The Wrap, Leigh will join the film alongside the presumed cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Zoe Bell, James Remar, Walton Goggins, Bruce Dern and Denis Minochet. Of course, if things go the way they did with Django Unchained that could all change. Leigh has been keeping busy since her breakthrough in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but this would be her first major role in a long time. She's recently appeared in The Spectacular Now and will star in the Amityville sequel, while also taking a role in Welcome to Me opposite Kristen Wiig.
The Hateful Eight takes place in post-Civil War Wyoming and follows two bounty hunters, a sheriff, and a tough prisoner named Daisy as they enter a shop to wait out a storm, only to find tension with four men who may be trying to free her. Filming is set to begin early next for release later in 2015.
This is about as good as news gets for me as Leigh has long been a personal favorite, especially in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle and The Anniversary Party. I can't wait to see what she can do with dialogue written by Tarantino.
