'The Hateful Eight' Director Quentin Tarantino Supposedly Casting 'Joy' Star Jennifer Lawrence! Here's Why He Didn't
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Jennifer Lawrence is arguably one of today's biggest female stars under 30, so it comes as no surprise that renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino wanted her to play the role of fugitive Daisy Domergue in his latest masterpiece, "The Hateful Eight," which opens in theaters today.
The 52-year-old Academy Award-winning writer and director, who meticulously takes the time to cast actors into his films, told Entertainment Weekly that he initially wanted Lawrence to be in "The Hateful Eight."
"I’m a huge Jennifer Lawrence fan. I think I’ve been on record of saying that her and David O. Russell’s relationship is very William Wyler-Bette Davis like, and that’s a good thing to be like," Tarantino admitted. Russell is the director of Lawrence's latest film, "Joy," which also opens today, and has also worked with her on 2013's "American Hustle" and 2012's "Silver Linings Playbook."
"I can see her doing a good job with this role, so we went to talk about it and everything," Tarantino said of Daisy Domergue. "She was just doing me a courtesy to see me, I think. She was doing 'Joy.' She had to do all this publicity on the 'Hunger Games' movies. There was just no f—ing way in the world that she was available."
"Having said that, I’m glad I didn’t cast somebody that young. I think I absolutely positively made the right choice, as far as the ages of the characters," the director admitted. Another Jennifer ended up playing the role, 53-year-old Golden Globe Award-nominated Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Leigh spoke with Indie Wire to talk about how Tarantino made her feel welcome and how the star-studded cast had bonded over the course of making the film. She said, "I was so happy to be part of this ensemble. I read the script, so I knew what happens to her and what I was getting into. And I was in great hands. Every day I went to work I was happy, and we were all sad when it ended."
"Quentin is so enthusiastic, and you feel so supported and part of his vision," the actress admitted. "We all felt that we were part of something exceptional, and it may never happen again. It became like a very happy, loving family. None of us wanted to let it go, so we haven’t and hopefully won’t."
"The Hateful Eight" opens in theaters today and stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern.