Brad Pitt, Simon Pegg hang with 'Bastards'
David Krumholtz, Nastassja Kinski also circle WWII project
By Steven Zeitchik and Borys Kit

Aug 7, 2008, 06:28 PM ET

Updated: Aug 7, 2008, 10:40 PM ET

Brad Pitt, left, and Simon Pegg (Getty Images photo)

Related Content 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 meeting 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 vengeance 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, who have never worked together as actor and director, will yield unique results. "They're going to push each other and really help make something special," he said.

Pitt's character is a voluble, freewheeling outlaw 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 killing Nazis," according to those familiar with the script.

The signing of Pitt, who first saw the script in early July, means that the production has locked down a key role as it moves forward on an accelerated schedule.

The Weinstein Co./Universal co-production starts shooting Oct. 13 in Germany, with the plan to debut at the 2009 Festival de Cannes. "It's going to be a nine-month sprint marathon," Bender said.

Pitt has a relatively clear schedule for the fall, though he is set to start shooting the boxing drama "The Fighter" for Paramount late this year or early next year.

Bender, in Berlin scouting locations, said casting is under way for a German actor to play Hans Landa, the Nazi leader targeted by the resistance. B.J. Novak and Eli Roth are in talks to play soldiers in Pitt's rogue army, with the pair playing PFC Utivich and PFC Danowitz, respectively.

The Weinstein Co. and Universal are co-financing and co-presenting the film, 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.

Wow. Simon, Brad Pitt, David Krumholtz, and B.J. Novak. I'm likin' this cast.

A Tarantino war movie!!? with Pegg, mm interesting, have to wait and see if it's any good.

could you provide the link plz?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26089617/

But Brad Pitt's shit.

the dirty sod.

Yeah, but having Pegg & Krumholtz in the film would more than make up for that.

Feel the love.
dolfyn.

I thought this was going to be a remake of the b-movie classic of the same name. The plot summary and writing credits on IMDB seems to indicate it isn't. Shame.

The idea of a Tarantino war film I find mouth-watering.


(Surely there must be a part for Jason Statham)

Lazy, yes, but I don't think he's shit. When he can be arsed, he can be very good (Fight Club, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robot Ford) it's just that those times are few and far between.

Mike Myers has been cast in this now as well.

I normally don't like war movies, don't like them at all.

But this... this is getting interesting.

Add The Stath, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Alan Arkin, Takeshi Kitano, George Clooney and Clyde orangutan to the cast and it will be the greatest movie EVER.


Are you reading Tarantino?

Seconded. A bit more frequently recently, I'd also add. (I have yet to see Burn After Reading, but it looks like he's on point.)

Oh, and Twelve Monkeys. I knew there was a third film in which he was really good, it's only just come to me now.

I'd add Seven and Babel (though I didn't care for the film, his performance is excellent) to the "very good" pile, as well. And he's great in Ocean's 11, everyone is though no one's particularly challenged, yet the script holds up. (Unlike in the sequels...)

Looks like he's going to be great in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ... the trailer I saw looks amazing. I don't LUUURRRVE Brad Pitt, but I think he's a fairly good actor.

Pegg can't be a Bastard.

^ Aww.

It's a crying shame; but at least it's because there's other Pegg-goodness to look forward to.

Feel the love.
dolfyn.

Simon Pegg talks "Inglorious Bastards!"

My first thought.