Quentin Tarantino working on Django-Zorro crossover comic book

Quentin Tarantino can’t seem to get enough of the Wild West.

The mastermind behind “Django Unchained” and the unproduced but much discussed “Hateful Eight” is now collaborating on a comic book that will pair his Django character with the enduring swashbuckler Zorro, DC Entertainment and Dynamite Entertainment announced Wednesday.

Due later this year, the comic will serve as a sequel to “Django Unchained,” the Oscar-winning 2012 movie starring Jamie Foxx as a former-slave-turned-bounty-hunter on a mission to rescue his wife (Kerry Washington) from a brutal plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio).

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FOR THE RECORD

An earlier version of this post said Tarantino was not directly involved in a previous “Django” comic. His contributions included giving input on the art and writing.
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“Django” has proved an enduring hit, grossing $425 million at the worldwide box office and spawning a previous comic-book adaptation, on which Tarantino selected the art team and gave direction about how to adapt the screenplay.

This time around, Tarantino is “co-plotting” with Matt Wagner, who has written “Zorro” comics for Dynamite and will pen the new book. Reginald Hudlin, a producer on “Django” who wrote the aforementioned adaptation, will serve as editor.

For Tarantino, the comic may help scratch two itches. First, he’s had “Django” on the brain of late. At the Cannes Film Festival last month, he told reporters he has 90 minutes of unused footage from the film that he’s considering using to create a four-hour “Django” TV miniseries.

Second, Tarantino could be keeping busy while he figures out whether and when he’ll make “The Hateful Eight,” the ensemble western he shelved in January after the script leaked online. Shortly thereafter, he became embroiled in a legal battle with Gawker Media over disseminating copies of the script.

Since then, however, Tarantino has said he’s still working on the script and also dropped the lawsuit. A recent Showbiz411 report said he intends to start shooting the film in November.

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