Jennifer Jason Leigh Joins Quentin Tarantino's 'Hateful Eight'

By Rebecca Ford

Jennifer Jason Leigh has been cast as the female lead in Quentin Tarantino’s post-Civil War western The Hateful Eight, sources tell THR.

Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, and Michael Madsen are all set to appear in the film version after being part of a star-studded reading of the script in April. Amber Tamblyn took on the role of the female lead Daisy during the live reading, but Tarantino looked at several actresses for the coveted role for the film version.

The film will shoot in early 2015, with The Weinstein Co. planning for its release in the U.S. in the fall of 2015. Richard Gladstein and Stacey Sher will produce The Hateful Eight, with the Weinstein brothers and G. Mac Brown executive producing.

At this year’s Comic-Con, Tarantino revealed that he would proceed on The Hateful Eight despite putting his plans on hold earlier this year after the script was leaked online and he was embroiled in a legal fight with Gawker over the leak, which ended with him withdrawing the suit in May.

Leigh’s recent work includes The Spectacular Now and Kill Your Darlings. She’s repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

Photo credit: AP Images/Invision