If there is one thing that Quentin Tarantino is better at than most people, it is reviving the “dead” careers of various actors. Be it a stagnant John Travolta in Pulp Fiction or David Carradine in Kill Bill, the guy just knows how to reboot careers.

And now it is Don Johnson‘s turn. Variety is reporting that Johnson is set to join the cast of Tarantino’s new film, Django Unchained, in the role of Spencer “Big Daddy” Bennett.

Back in July it was announced that Kevin Costner would be playing a villain in Quentin Tarantino‘s upcoming film, Django Unchained, who trains slaves to fight to the death for the amusement of slavemaster Calvin Candie, who will be played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Recently, however, Costner had to step away from the role, and now a replacement has been chosen: Kurt Russell. We now also know that the character will be named Ace, and that he takes great joy in making the lives of the slaves miserable while overseeing the plantation.

From a TV Western to one directed by Quentin Tarantino. Can’t get much better than that if you are actor Gerald McRaney.

The former co-star of Deadwood (George Hearst in seasons two and three of that brilliant HBO masterpiece), McRaney has joined the cast of Tarantino’s upcoming film, Django Unchained, in a yet to be declared role.

Having read the film’s script, one is able to safely assume that he’ll play one of the various slave owners that the team of Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz will face on their journey to not only take as many of them out as possible, but also free the former’s character’s wife, which honestly, is a perfect role for the guy. The script is an absolute killer, particularly in its ability to blend Western trappings with Tarantino’s love of style and narrative, making this easily one of the most anticipated films currently being worked on.

Kevin Costner has been the butt of many jokes over the years before the actor seemed to disappear for while to focus on other things, including his efforts to try and help clean up after the Gulf Coast oil spill a couple of years ago. Apart from a two–year absence from 2003 to 2005, he has continued to act, but keeping it to a movie per year or so and keeping himself out of the spotlight for the most part.

Now it appears he wants to make something of a comeback with some very intriguing supporting roles.

After a few whispers that Will Smith might be starring in Quentin Tarantino‘s upcoming western, Django Unchained, Academy Award–winning actor Jamie Foxx has been officially announced as the star instead.

Foxx will take on the role of Django (once played by Franco Nero in 1966’s Django), a former slave who, along with a German bounty hunter played by Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds antagonist, Christoph Waltz (The Green Hornet), sets off to get his revenge on the plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) who enslaved him, and free the woman he loves from captivity.