What is Casting Couch? A new day, a new set of casting updates. And—you guys—you’re going to want to pay attention to this one. We’ve got Michael Fassbender news. One of the most memorable characters from the ‘Little Orphan Annie’ comic strips was Annie’s father figure, benefactor, and get out of jail free card, Daddy Warbucks. Warbucks was a man of means, said to be worth upwards of “ten zillion dollars,” but he was a self-made man who always preached the importance of working hard and putting back into the free market. If an actor were going to adequately portray Warbucks in a film adaptation of the Annie story, he would necessarily have to bring all kinds of swagger. That’s probably why Will Gluck is looking at Jamie Foxx to play a version of the character in his upcoming take on the Annie property. THR is reporting that Foxx is currently in negotiations to join Quvenzhane Wallis in the film as Benjamin Stacks, an even more absurdly named update on the Warbucks concept. This one’s definitely got Jay-Z’s fingerprints all over it.

At the end of 2012, maverick director Quentin Tarantino brought his latest ultra-violent and over-the-top exploitation film to cinemas, raking in more than $400m in worldwide box office. Now, Django Unchained is available on DVD and Blu-ray. While King Schultz and Django Freeman travel through the American South, collecting bounties, you can relax and enjoy their ride with an ice cold beverage of your choice. Let the offensive language slide and get into the tribute to spaghetti westerns and blaxploitation cinema. Just don’t take that language with you when you shut the movie off, regardless of how many drinks you’ve had.

Spider-Man fans know that the original version of Electro had a kind of jiggling starfish on his face (as you can see above), the power to control electricity, and (obviously) a deep and abiding love for all things Brazilian. The character has been updated several times — including a flaming skull look and a brief stint as Red Skull’s son — but for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, it turns out that Marc Webb and company are going with the Ultimate version of the character. “News organization” The Daily Mail recently published some candid shots of Foxx in full effects make-up as the villain (which you can see below). There’s a little bit of Avatar going on and a little bit of Schwarzenegger-style Mr. Freeze, but it seems clear that they’re going all out with the design. Of course, Peter fought a giant lizard last time, so the door’s wide open for treating the villains as insanely as the comics did. Check out the pics for yourself and please offer your own descriptive combinations:

The United States finds itself under attack in White House Down, where Jamie Foxx plays the President, and Channing Tatum plays a greasy Channing Tatum in full rescue mode. It’s purely a product of timing, but the symbolism of Foxx playing Django six months before we’ll see him as the Commander-in-Chief is pretty huge. No doubt the deep-thinking Roland Emmerich saw the possibility all along. It’s also a nice product of timing that Tatum is in the G.I. Joe sequel this weekend at the same time that the other White House under attack movie (Olympus Has Fallen) has already made its box office presence felt. The marketing team must be really happy. Fortunately for everyone, this trailer more than delineate between White House Down and Olympus Has Fallen. At the very least — you didn’t expect Emmerich’s characters to go stealth mode, did you? Seriously — what doest that guy have against important federal buildings? Give your ear drums the middle finger and check the trailer out for yourself:

UPDATED: Now with one more new teaser poster! Did you want to go on vacation in our nation’s capital any time soon? Perhaps you would like to sit outside the Capitol Building, gazing up at the sky for no reason whatsover? Or to relive Forrest Gump on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial? Or to really just feel kind of fuzzy and out of sorts and typical in Washington, D.C.? Sounds like you’ve been tasked with populating the new teaser posters for Roland Emmerich‘s White House Down, starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. Look! There you are! Just to the right! Suffice to say, it doesn’t seem as if the big budget was brought out for these first looks, but with the film’s first trailer dropping tomorrow, we’ll soon get a real taste of the year’s other “Die Hard in the White House.” The film also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Woods, Richard Jenkins, Joey King, and Rachelle Lefevre. Check out the other teaser poster after the break. White House Down opens on June 28th. [Moviefone]

Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for Django Unchained (and all of Tarantino’s other films). With Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino has taken a decisive shift in his approach to storytelling. Abandoning the non-linear, present-set depictions of an organized criminal underworld in Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and the Kill Bill films, Tarantino has not only transitioned to more conventional linear storytelling (with the exception of the requisite flashback), but chooses familiar historical contexts in which to tell these stories. With the WWII-set Inglourious Basterds and now with the pre-Civil War-era Western Django, Tarantino has made a habit of mixing the historical with the inventively anachronistic, and has turned recent modern histories of racial and ethnic oppression, dehumanization, and extermination into ostensibly cathartic fantasies of revenge against vast systemic structures of power.

The movies released in 2012 have been notable for many reasons, impacting or reflecting news events both positively and negatively. It’s also seen new innovations, the most notable being the first release of a film in 48 frames per second. However, cinematic historians will also look back on 2012 as being a banner year for facial hair. The entire crew of Film School Rejects relishes glorious facial hair (and yes, that also includes the ladies on staff). We all wish we could have half the style that characters in the movies this year displayed on their lips, chins and cheeks. Now, as the year draws to a close, we reminisce on the many styles we’ve seen on movie screens in 2012, and maybe give some tips on how to grow your own face so glorious.

As dissent continues to flourish in this country, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that discordant responses to films is also on the rise. Divisiveness has always been one thing among film critics, with publications throughout the past decade loving to showcase opposing views of everything from Dancer in the Dark to Tree of Life. But it’s another thing for broader American society to not only disagree with one another but to really go at each other over a certain motion picture or movies overall. This is the year that a right-wing political documentary (2016: Obama’s America) outgrossed all but one of Michael Moore’s films, including the gun violence issue doc Bowling for Columbine. It’s also a year, now, when the notion that violent films may have an impact on gun violence more than guns themselves is being spouted by everyone from NRA leaders to actor Jamie Foxx. Does that make Foxx’s new movie, Django Unchained, one of the most dangerous films of 2012? It depends on whether or not you agree with that idea of films and video games being so influential. Also depending on your side of a debate, you might agree with those calling Zero Dark Thirty “dangerous,” as Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side; My Trip to Al-Qaeda) has now done. I haven’t seen the film yet, so I can’t offer any real opinion on the torture scenes provoking discussion, but here’s what Gibney has to say about it in a lengthy article he wrote

Now that Jamie Foxx is official to play the villainous Electro in Marc Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man sequel, it only makes sense that he should start talking about the role in interviews. People are pretty crazy about superheroes, after all. Who could avoid trying to pry some information out of him? From the sound of things though, getting info about his new role isn’t much of a challenge. Foxx seems to have pretty loose lips when it comes to all things superhero. And, more specifically, he seems to be doing everything he can to make sure that everyone knows he won’t be wearing Electro’s traditional (and awesome) green and yellow outfit in the upcoming film. First off, in an interview with Black Film, Foxx made a point to address the outfit in the movie by saying, “It won’t be green and yellow. It will be a different color. They (the producers) want something for the future. They want to have it more grounded and not as comic book-y, so it won’t be green and yellow. They want to try new things, like a liquid rubber and things like that, and there are all these bolts and stuff in my arms when they are hanging me upside down and trying to figure out what happen. How did he become this way? So, it will be some new stuff.” It doesn’t end there though. In an interview with MTV, the actor had similar comments regarding the suit. At the notion that he might

With the year winding to a close, the last great hopes of the 2012 movie-going public are left resting on the final films set to roll out in the coming weeks. Let’s be frank – 2012 has had some real disappointments in various ways (we’re still wincing from Prometheus, and plenty of people didn’t find what they were looking for in The Dark Knight Rises), but there’s still time for certain productions to deliver on their promise. Certain productions like Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained, for instance. While we’ll have to wait until next month to see the film (one that Tarantino is probably still cutting together as we type this), we can certainly have a good time with the project’s latest batch of marketing materials. Months from now, they may be all we have to look back on fondly, should Django follow in other disappointing footsteps (however, we pray it won’t). The film’s official website has recently rolled out and, in addition to being just damn fun to explore, it also features some fun takeaway bits, like these new wallpapers that focus on seven specific Django characters (and Tarantino himself, of course). It looks like all the wallpapers are also available as Facebook cover images, if you’re into that sort of thing. Just go Django-crazy, okay? Check out the eight new wallpapers after the break. Doesn’t your computer deserve a flashy, anachronistic treat today?

Consider the slow news days over with this amazing bit of casting buzz. Variety reports that Jamie Foxx is currently in “early talks” to take on the main villain role in the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man 2, with Foxx reportedly looking to take on the epic super-villain role of Electro. The outlet provides a bare bones explanation of the character, telling us that “Electro is the alter ego of Max Dillon, an enemy of Spider-Man who gains the ability to control electricity after being struck by lightning. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man #9′ in February 1964.” With Dr. Curt Connors’ own alter ego super-villain, The Lizard, finally getting his chance to wreck havoc on ol’ Spidey’s life (after he was hinted at heavily during Sam Raimi’s previous trilogy), Electro seems like a natural fit. Variety also notes that, in ”The Amazing Spider-Man’s” post-credit sequence, background lightning plays a major part, leading many fans to already speculate that it would be Electro to next take center stage at the main baddie. To add fuel to this speculation fire, Foxx has already tweeted about the news…sort of. This afternoon, the actor issued this tweet:

If you want to go into Django Unchained unspoiled, then watching the second trailer isn’t the brightest idea. While the first teaser was all about attitude, this one is much more story heavy. It has the set up, the conflict, and some rather spectacular money shots. A few of those shots may be best to experience on the big screen first, so if you want to go in fresh, stick with the first trailer. However, if you want to see more of a slave owning Leonardo DiCaprio, then check it out:

No one would blame you if you were under the impression that Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained had finished casting, especially since we’ve seen no less than two trailers and rumors swirled that the film could have unfurled some footage at last month’s Cannes Film Festival, but apparently the film isn’t quite done lining up talent. Deadline Burlingame reports that Jonah Hill is now set for an unspecified role in the upcoming film. While we don’t know who Hill will play, we know who he won’t – Scotty Harmony, a part he was originally being looked at for when the production was initially starting casting. Harmony is “the kid who loses Django’s slave wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) to Calvin Candie, a charming but utterly evil plantation owner, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, which sets up a showdown with Django, the former slave turned bounty hunter played by Jamie Foxx.” Even if we don’t know what Hill’s role will be, it signals the Oscar-nominated star’s continued wing-stretching when it comes to his works.

Quentin Tarantino‘s Inglourious Basterds was one of the best films of 2009, if not the best, and it was also his first foray into history. He’s returning to theaters this Christmas with a movie that goes even further back in time to tackle our nation’s sordid past and present love of violent comeuppance and cameos. Django Unchained stars Jamie Foxx as a slave named Django who enters into a deal with a fastidious dentist (Christoph Waltz) for his freedom. If Django helps the good doctor find and identify some wanted men he’ll be granted his freedom as well as the chance at rescuing his wife (Kerry Washington) from a sadistic land baron (Leonardo DiCaprio). The film promises bloody violence and action, sharp dialogue and a dark sense of humor which is exactly the kind of movie you want to watch on Christmas. Check out the new international trailer below.

We’ve known for a while that Channing Tatum was going to play a heroic Secret Service agent who protects the President during an attack on the White House in Roland Emmerich’s upcoming action film White House Down. It’s been a scary proposition to think about, because everybody knows that action star Channing Tatum is the worst Channing Tatum you can get. He’s much better when he’s being funny or dancing, which doesn’t sound like things he’s going to get much of a chance to do in a movie that keeps getting described as “Die Hard in the White House.” Unfortunately, this movie may be giving us the return of the dreaded Wooden Channing Tatum. Some new casting rumors introduce new promise to the production, however. While watching Tatum try to pull off stalwart and stern for two hours is likely to be a chore, his supporting cast just may end up being talented enough to pull him through this one unscathed. First off, Variety has a report that Jamie Foxx is in negotiations to play the President that Tatum is going to be protecting. Barring the casting of Barack Obama himself, Foxx is about the most charismatic man I can think of who could be put into the role of a movie President and pull it off believably, so that’s promising news right there.

Yesterday’s brief first look at Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained in motion was interesting and compelling enough to warrant a full post on it, despite the video being unfortunately over-laden with all sorts of Entertainment Tonight branding. That was certainly good news for fans of the auteur, but thirty or so seconds of minced-together bits from one of the year’s most anticipated films is just that – thirty or so seconds of minced-together bits. While we’ll have to wait until the end of the year to see the full film, Django‘s first full trailer has finally arrived, and – well, it’s certainly a Tarantino trailer. Surprisingly enough, this first look puts quite a bit of emphasis on Christoph Waltz‘s bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz, with Jamie Foxx‘s escaped slave Django playing a quiet second fiddle until things get really going towards the end. Of course, Leonardo DiCaprio pops up again as the evil plantation owner Calvin Candie, but he’s limited to much of what we already saw yesterday. Style, pop, flash, head nods, dead bodies, and a revisionist take on history, yes, this is a fine first look indeed. Watch it after the break.

As is becoming scarily prevalent, Entertainment Tonight has nabbed a very cool first look at a film that most of their viewership probably don’t give a flying you-know-what about, but thems the breaks. This time around, it’s a first look at Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained, and while this video spot is overlaid with bad voiceover, flying logos, and that zingy old ET jingle, buried underneath that is some great, great stuff. In less than thirty seconds, you’ll catch a first listen at Leonardo DiCaprio going Southern, a first look at some dazzling facial hair on DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and Christoph Waltz, along with lots of shooting, winking, and nodding. You know, like any good Tarantino film. The spot doesn’t let you forget that tomorrow! tomorrow! TOMORROW! we’ll be getting a more sizable look at the film’s first scenes, but this is good enough for a watch right now.

Based on very positive buzz from Cannes, thanks to some special footage airing, Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained is already picking up quite a bit of steam, so it’s no surprise that more marketing materials are surfacing. We’ll get our first look at the film’s teaser trailer when it plays in front of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus in a few short weeks, but for now, we’re just going to have to make do with some new stills from the film and just imagine all that snappy dialogue and shocking violence that Tarantino surely has in store for us. This new batch features glimpses of Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and a ton of guns and smoking. If that doesn’t scream “spaghetti Western!” to you, well, maybe you’re a traditionalist, but everything we’ve seen from Tarantino’s latest so far has been quite encouraging, and these stills are no exception. Check out a few more Django Unchained pictures after the break!

It’s a wild career Peter Berg has created for himself. The kid from Shocker and Aspen Extreme grew up to have an eclectic mix of directorial offerings. Everything from wicked, black comedies like Very Bad Things and damn solid action flicks like The Rundown. He’s even dabbled in the Summer blockbuster like Hancock and this Friday’s Battleship. I think that movie made Cole angry. Berg’s most important work of art came in the form of Friday Night Lights, arguably the best show in the past decade. You be the judge which side of that fence I fall on. Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t Lose. But we can’t exactly run a Commentary Commentary on the full series run of that show. That would take too long, and there’s not enough Monster in the world to keep the writing juices flowing. So we’ll do one on The Kingdom, Berg’s 2007 film about an FBI investigation of a suicide bombing in Riyadh. That’s in Saudi Arabia, something you’d know if you’ve seen this film’s opening credits. Or watched The Daily Show more often. Enough about TV. On with the Commentary Commentary for The Kingdom.

Inglourious Basterds was one of 2009′s best films, and depending on who you ask (re: me) it’s also writer/director Quentin Tarantino‘s finest film to date. His first real foray into a period piece mixed World War II action and intrigue with memorable characters and performances, sharp wit and a smart script. The Academy Award-nominated result was also his highest grossing film worldwide. And now he’s back hoping to recreate that success with Django Unchained. Once again he’s pairing high profile actors and a historical setting, but this time his genre mash-up combines the spaghetti western with 70′s era blaxploitation. The film stars Jamie Foxx as a slave freed by a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) in exchange for help in catching and killing a pair of wanted men. Django’s ultimate goal however is to find his wife (Kerry Washington) who’s fallen into the hands of a dastardly fellow named Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) whose plantation, Candie Land, is home to gladiator-like battles between slaves forced to fight for their survival. EW.com has just posted the first two pics from the film showing DiCaprio, Waltz and Foxx in character. Christmas Day can’t come soon enough.