Kurt Russell Exits Django Unchained

Indeed, Mr. Petty. Waiting is the hardest part.

Got word late last week of Kurt Russell walking off (!?!) the set of Django Unchained. As I twiddled my thumbs waiting for back-up confirmation, what should happen but Variety's Jeff Sneider tweeted the following last night:

"EXCLUSIVE: First KEVIN COSTNER, and now KURT RUSSELL has EXITED the cast of QT's DJANGO UNCHAINED. No reason given or replacement named..."

Well played, Sir. Sigh.

Unfortunate turn of events as Russell, for the second time playing back-up for Quentin Tarantino after Mickey Rourke exited Death Proof and Costner, proved a great fit for Tarantino's way with words and his love of cult cinema from yesteryear. You know the thought of having Snake Plissken (or specifically John Carpenter's Elvis) was too much to resist. He won't be recast however as AICN says his role will be "absorbed" into another part filled by Walton Goggins.

Russell's not the only casualty. Sacha Baron Cohen also left, but his part was basically a cameo; no harm, no foul.