Quentin Tarantinohas tappedJerrod Carmichaelto co-write aDjango/Zorromovie based on the crossover comic book series of the same name, multiple sources tell Collider.. Written by Tarantino and released by Dynamite Entertainment and DC Comics, the series served as a sequel to the director’s 2012 movieDjango UnchainedstarringJamie Foxx.
The story takes place several years after the events ofDjango Unchained. Django is still a bounty hunter, and since there’s a warrant on his head back east, he has mainly been plying his trade in the western states. After safely settling his wife, Broomhilda, near Chicago, he takes to the road once again, sending her funds whenever he completes a job. It’s by sheer chance that he encounters the aged and sophisticated Diego de la Vega – the famed Zorro – and soon finds himself fascinated by this unusual character, who can also hold his own in a fight. It’s not long before Django becomes Diego’s ‘bodyguard’ and joins him on a mission to free the local indigenous people from slavery.
Word of the project first surfaced in the wake of the 2014 Sony hack, whichrevealed several email exchangesbetween Tarantino and then-Sony bossAmy Pascal. One email from Tarantino read, “D/Z could be really fun!” and Pascal described the series as “super cool.” Since then, Collider has heard from multiple sources that the film adaptation is real and that Carmichael is working on the script, though they differ on whether he’s writing it on his own with oversight from Tarantino, or co-writing with Quentin himself as well as another, as-yet-unidentified writer. While it’s unclear whether theDjango/Zorroproject is officially set up at Sony, the studiodidhandle the international release ofDjango Unchainedand is releasing Tarantino’s latest film,Once Upon a Time… in HollywoodstarringLeonardo DiCaprioandBrad Pitt, though it’s entirely possible that Tarantino is developing the project on his own, and will merely give Sony first dibs given their recent history together. Sony had no comment.
It also remains unclear whether Tarantino would direct the project himself, though he has said in the past that he intends to retire following his tenth film, and as someone who has followed his career closely, I have a hard time believing he’d end it withDjango/Zorro. No, I’d wager that he’ll simply wind up producingDjango/Zorroshould it ultimately come to fruition, though he’ll no doubt hand-pick the filmmaker himself. Of course, it’s worth noting that Tarantino rarely produces movies that he doesn’t direct, though hehasserved as an executive producer onEli Roth’sHostelmovies, as well as films directed by his palsRobert RodriguezandRoger Avary. Tarantino is represented by WME, and a representative for the filmmaker declined to comment.
Carmichael is the standup comic who createdThe Carmichael Show, which earned raves for the way it handled sensitive topics, including race. He’s now an executive producer on Hulu’s original comedy seriesRamy. Carmichael is also co-writing the48 Hoursremake with theSafdie Brothers, and he has been developing his own directorial debut titledOn the Count of Three, in which he’s slated to star alongsideChristopher Abbott. He’s represented by UTA, and a representative for the multi-hyphenate did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
