Jamie Foxx (Getty Images)
“He didn’t walk away from it because he was scared of the material. It just wasn’t 100 per cent right, ” said Tarantino about his meetings (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Hustle and Flow star Terrence Howard could probably have used the part to launch a real comeback, but alas, he missed out. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Singer and Transformers star Tyrese Gibson would be a slightly unexpected pick for Tarantino, but according to the director he was in the running. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Centric)
Speaking of unexpected choices, the not-exactly-prolific comedic actor Chris Tucker was apparently a finalist for the Django role. Tucker did shine in a bit role in Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)
Everyone’s favorite black male sex symbol of the moment, Idris Elba, would have been an inspired choice and Tarantino did name drop him as a someone who was considered for the part. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for BET)
Character actor Michael Kenneth Williams has proven his adeptness at period drama on Boardwalk Empire and his portrayal of Omar on The Wire is the stuff of legend. But unfortunately, he missed out.
Outspoken filmmaker Quentin Tarantino planned on auditioning almost every eligible black male actor in Hollywood for the lead role in his highly-anticipated new film Django Unchained.
Although he eventually settled on Academy-Award-winner Jamie Foxx, he’s made no secret that he talked to several other stars about playing the title role, including A-lister Will Smith and character actor Michael K. Williams.
Tarantino told Playboy magazine he ultimately chose Foxx for the role because “he was the cowboy.”
“We sat there talking, and I realized, ‘Wow, if this were the 1960s and I was casting a Django western TV show…’ and they had black guys as stars of those in the 1960s, I could see Jamie on one of those. And that’s what I was looking for, a Clint Eastwood,” said Tarantino.
Check out this slideshow of the stars who nearly got to ride in the saddle as the movie’s hero.
