Jennifer Jason Leigh has landed the female lead of Daisy Domergue in Quentin Tarantino‘s western “The Hateful Eight,” multiple individuals familiar with the Weinstein Company project have told TheWrap.
Past Tarantino collaborators Samuel L. Jackson (Major Warren), Kurt Russell (John Ruth), Tim Roth (Oswaldo Mobray), Michael Madsen (Joe Gage) and Walton Goggins (Chris Mannix) and Denis Menochet (Bob) are expected to star alongside Bruce Dern, who will play General Smithers.
“Hateful Eight” is set in Wyoming following the Civil War. Story follows two bounty hunters, a tough female prisoner and a local sheriff as they wait for a storm to pass with four men who may or may not be attempting to free the prisoner.
Leigh will play Daisy Domergue, who is wanted for murder and due to hang for her crimes. Back in April, the actress actually attended Tarantino’s live-reading of the “Hateful Eight” script at LACMA, where she sat next to both Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, as well as producer Stacey Sher. Amber Tamblyn from “Django Unchained” read the role of Daisy that night.
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The part of Daisy was among the most coveted in Hollywood in recent months, with Michelle Williams, Hilary Swank, Robin Wright and Demi Moore chasing the empowered female role.
James Remar (Jody), James Parks (O.B.), Dana Gourrier (Minnie) and Tarantino’s “Death Proof” star Zoe Bell (Six-Horse Judy) are expected to fill out the rest of the ensemble.
Sher and Richard Gladstein are producing “Hateful Eight,” which the Weinstein Company plans to release in 2015.
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Leigh is a Golden Globe-nominated actress who next stars in “Amityville: The Awakening.” She recently appeared opposite Kristen Wiig in Shira Piven’s dark comedy “Welcome to Me” and played Miles Teller’s mother in “The Spectacular Now.” She also filmed Ryan Murphy’s HBO pilot “Open.”
Tarantino is the latest high-profile filmmaker to cast Leigh, who has previously worked with Ron Howard, Robert Altman, the Coen brothers, Sam Mendes, Noah Baumbach and Charlie Kaufman.
Leigh is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.