Who Auditioned For Hans Landa: Behind-The-Scenes Casting Secrets

Quentin Tarantino has often lauded Hans Landa as one of his most remarkable character creations. In the initial stages of casting, Tarantino envisioned Leonardo DiCaprio portraying this iconic role. However, as he delved deeper into the character’s complexities, Tarantino ultimately decided to cast a German actor, Christoph Waltz, for the role of Hans Landa, a choice that would later earn Waltz critical acclaim for his portrayal.

The search for the perfect actor to portray Hans Landa, a pivotal character in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Inglourious Basterds,” began with Tarantino’s initial choice, Leonardo DiCaprio. However, Tarantino later decided to cast a native German-speaking actor for the role. Eventually, the role found its perfect fit in Austrian actor Christoph Waltz. According to Tarantino, Waltz’s portrayal of Hans Landa was so exceptional that he believed Waltz had given life to a character he once thought was unplayable.