Brad Pitt enlists for Tarantino's "Bastards" (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Brad Pitt officially has gone inglorious.

The actor has joined the cast of Quentin Tarantinos "Inglorious Bastards," signing on to play Lt. Aldo Raine, the head of the Jewish resistance in the writer/directors World War II film.

Additionally, British actor Simon Pegg ("Hot Fuzz") is in discussions to join the cast. David Krumholtz (CBS "Numbers") has an offer but may have a scheduling problem. Nastassja Kinski is meeting with Tarantino for the part of a German actress.

Pitts character is a Southern rebel who leads a band of eight Jewish American soldiers as they exact vengeance on Nazis in German-occupied France.

Pegg would play a British lieutenant. Krumholtzs part would be that of a member of Pitts team.

Producer Lawrence Bender said the alchemy of Pitt and Tarantino, who have never worked together as actor and director, will yield unique results. "Theyre going to push each other and really help make something special," he said.

Pitts character is a voluble, freewheeling outlaw in the manner of Samuel L. Jacksons Jules Winnfield in "Pulp Fiction," prone to saying things like "were gonna be doing one thing, and one thing only, and thats killing Nazis," according to those familiar with the script.

The signing of Pitt, who first saw the script in early July, means that the production has locked down a key role as it moves forward on an accelerated schedule.

The Weinstein Co./Universal co-production starts shooting October 13 in Germany, with hopes of having it finished in time for a debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. "Its going to be a nine-month sprint marathon," Bender said.

Pitt has a relatively clear schedule for the fall, though he is set to start shooting the boxing drama "The Fighter" for Paramount late this year or early next year.

Bender, in Berlin scouting locations, said casting is under way for a German actor to play Hans Landa, the Nazi leader targeted by the resistance. B.J. Novak ("The Office") and "Hostel" director Eli Roth are in talks to play soldiers in Pitts rogue army, with the pair playing PFC Utivich and PFC Danowitz, respectively.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter