He has been rumored as the frontrunner as of late, but it is looking like Jamie Foxx has officially been cast as the lead in Quentin Tarantino‘s upcoming spaghetti western Django Unchained. The source comes from the trustworthy Jeff Goldsmith, who let us know Leonardo DiCaprio had been cast days before anyone else. He claims that Will Smith is out and “inside sources” tell him that Tarantino “has chosen Oscar winner Jamie Foxx to play Django!” He also notes that another contender, Idris Elba, will indeed be taking part in Guillermo del Toro‘s sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim, as rumored.

If Foxx’s casting as ex-slave-turned-bounty hunter is indeed true, he will be joining Leonardo DiCaprio is our main villain, slave owner Calvin Candie. The great Oscar-winning Inglourious Basterds star Christoph Waltz is German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultze, who accompanies Django on the journey. Samuel L. Jackson plays Candie’s right-hand man and head house-slave Stephen.

Many people probably aren’t too happy with this choice, but I trust Tarantino and think this could be the come back Foxx needs. I can’t say much, but he has a hilarious role in the upcoming Horrible Bosses. It is minor, but he win a lot of people back with it, especially after doing such junk as Law Abiding Citizen, Valentine’s Day, The Soloist, and even his small, useless cameo in Due Date.

Django Unchained hits theaters December 25th, 2012.

What do you think about Foxx likely nabbing the lead role?