David Krumholtz, Nastassja Kinski also circle WWII project
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B.J. Novak lines up 'Bastards'
Brad Pitt officially has gone inglorious.
The actor has joined the cast of Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Bastards," signing on to play Lt. Aldo Raine, the head of the Jewish resistance in the auteur's World War II film.
Additionally, Simon Pegg is in discussions to join the cast. David Krumholtz has an offer but may have a scheduling problem. Nastassja Kinski is coming together with Tarantino for the part of a German actress.
Pitt's character is a Southern rebel wHO leads a band of eight Jewish American soldiers as they exact payback on Nazis in German-occupied France.
Pegg would play a British lieutenant. Krumholtz's part would be that of a member of Pitt's team.
Producer Lawrence Bender said the alchemy of Pitt and Tarantino, world Health Organization have never worked together as thespian and theater director, will yield unique results. "They're sledding to push each other and actually help make something special," he said.
Pitt's character is a voluble, freewheeling lawless in the manner of Samuel L. Jackson's Jules Winnfield in "Pulp Fiction," prone to saying things like "we're gonna be doing one thing, and one thing only, and that's violent death Nazis," according to those familiar with the script.
The signing of Pitt, who start saw the script in early July, means that the production has locked down a key part as it moves forward on an accelerated schedule.
The Weinstein Co./Universal co-production starts shooting Oct. 13 in Germany, with the design to debut at the 2009 Festival de Cannes. "It's passing to be a nine-month sprint marathon," Bender aforesaid.
Pitt has a comparatively clear schedule for the fall, though he is set to start shooting the packing drama "The Fighter" for Paramount late this class or early next year.
Bender, in Berlin scouting locations, said casting is under way for a German actor to play Hans Landa, the Nazi drawing card targeted by the resistance. B.J. Novak and Eli Roth are in negotiation to bet soldiers in Pitt's rapscallion army, with the match playing PFC Utivich and PFC Danowitz, respectively.
The Weinstein Co. and Universal are co-financing and co-presenting the celluloid, with Bender producing and Erica Steinberg, Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein eXEC producing.
Steven Zeitchik reported from New York; Borys Kit reported from Los Angeles.
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