Man, that was quick. Variety saw what was going on with Quentin Tarantino’s new film, made some calls and sussed it out quick, like only the trades can really do. We spoke too soon. Daniel Brühl will not play the role of the main antagonist, Col. Hans Landa in “Inglorious Bastards” (yay, Brühl for Zoller! Brühl for Zoller!).
According to the trade paper, Teutonic actor Christoph Waltz, primarily known for his work on German television, has bagged the role of the merciless and conniving Nazi commander.This makes much more sense. Waltz is older and seemingly better suited than the younger Brühl. Variety says nothing about the “Goodbye Lenin” star, but for his sake, we hope he still has a role in the film, because he’s been talking up a storm to the German press (we’re pretty sure he’ll play Fredrick Zoller, the handsome German celebrity soldier, and it’ll be the most ace casting move of the movie so far aside from Brad Pitt if it does happens).
But looks like we were right about Diane Kruger, who has been tapped to play the role of the German actress/ undercover British spy, Bridget Von Hammersmark. And that means poor Nastassja Kinski is out of the frame (which is a bit of a shame).
Lastly, 27-year-old American actor Paul Rust has been cast in the film, presumably as one of the lesser Bastard soldiers as we’ve never even heard of this kid (the writer, musician and L.A. comedian had a small role in “Semi-Pro,” and has written for Human Giant and Adult Swim). This kid just went from being a nobody to being on everybody’s radar, right friggin’ now. Quentin works in strange ways, maybe he saw him in a comedy club and said, “that’s the guy!” Either way, today is probably the happiest day of his life.
Production is supposed to begin shooting October 13 in Germany.