Tarantino going into battle with next film

By Gregg Kilday

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Quentin Tarantino will start shooting his next film, the World War II action tale "Inglorious Bastards," in October, with hopes of having it ready in time for the Cannes Film Festival next May.

The long-gestating project revolves around a "Dirty Dozen"-like group of soldiers behind enemy lines. No cast is yet in place, though Brad Pitt's name has surfaced.

Tarantino acquired the title and remake rights to Enzo Castellari's 1978 film of the same name, but his screenplay is said to be an original.

The project is set up at the closely held Weinstein Co., which is looking to co-finance it with a major studio in exchange for foreign rights.

Weinstein Co. principals Bob and Harvey Weinstein have a long history with Tarantino, stretching from 1994's "Pulp Fiction" through the filmmaker's most recent effort, the commercially disappointing "Grindhouse" films in 2007.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter