Quentin Tarantino's guide to 'The Hateful Eight' gang

Movie Sneaks: Quentin Tarantino’s guide to ‘The Hateful Eight’ gang

By Kevin Crust

Oct. 30, 2015 7 AM PT

hree years after "Django Unchained," Quentin Tarantino returns to the western for his eighth directorial feature — that's eight if you combine the "Kill Bills," which we are inclined to do to make way for the appropriately titled new film "The Hateful Eight." Set in Wyoming shortly after the Civil War, the film maroons the titular group of unsavory types at a stagecoach stopover during a blizzard. The tension and mistrust grow thick as each of the strangers tries to draw a bead on the others.

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The movie opens Christmas Day in a 70-millimeter roadshow cut that includes an overture and intermission and is six minutes longer than the version opening in wide release two weeks later. Here, Tarantino teases out insights to his rogue's gallery of characters for The Times.

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SAMUEL L. JACKSON

Maj. Marquis Warren, "The Bounty Hunter"

"Cool as a cucumber, deadly as a viper strike! Complete with $8,000 in frozen dead bodies in tow."

Samuel L. Jackson as Maj. Marquis Warren in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

KURT RUSSELL

John Ruth, "The Hangman"

"The ferocity of a bull. The subtlety of a buffalo. Chained to a killer who hates him."

Kurt Russell as John Ruth in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

JENNIFER JASON LEIGH

Daisy Doumergue, "The Prisoner"

"A blizzard behind her, a rope in front of her, and a man who hates her chained to her side. Is she a killer? Yes. Is she crazy? Maybe. What will she do for freedom? Anything."

Jennifer Jason Leigh stars as Daisy Domergue in "The Hateful Eight."

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Daisy Domergue in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.

WALTON GOGGINS

Chris Meninx, "The New Sheriff"

"A die-hard Confederate-cause soldier. Son of a Confederate renegade. Is he the new sheriff of Red Rock, or does something else bring him to this snowy mountain?"

Walton Goggins as Chris Mannix in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

DEMIAN BICHIR

Bob, "The Mexican"

"The mysterious caretaker. Who is he and does he belong?"

Demian Bichir as Bob in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

TIM ROTH

Oswaldo Mobray, "The Little Man"

"The foppish British hangman of Red Rock. What does his polite manner mask?"

Tim Roth as Oswaldo Mobray in "The Hateful Eight."(Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

MICHAEL MADSEN

Joe Gage, "The Cow Puncher"

"The cowboy loner. He doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows him. What exactly brought him to this snowy mountain?"

Michael Madsen as Joe Gage in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

BRUCE DERN

Gen. Sanford Smithers, "The Confederate"

"A legendary Southern combat general, with a very bloody past and a possibly bloodier future."

Bruce Dern as Confederate Gen. Sanford Smithers in "The Hateful Eight." (Andrew Cooper / Weinstein Co.)

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Entertainment & Arts

Kevin Crust

Now in his second tour with the Los Angeles Times, totaling more than 25 years, Kevin Crust is the planning editor for Entertainment and Arts. He previously served as deputy film editor and staff writer. A lifelong Southern Californian and a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s, he spends way too much time analyzing baseball statistics.