Brilliantly slotted for a Christmas 2012 release, Django Unchained is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated movies. With a cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Samuel L. Jackson just to name a few, how could it not be? Now, the ever-busy RZA has reportedly joined the Quentin Tarantino spaghetti Western picture as Thaddeus, a slave on a Mississippi plantation with a propensity towards violence.

In more light-hearted news, Brian Cox (Super Troopers) may return to comedic form, as the Scottish thespian is in final negotiations to join Warner Bros’ Dog Fight for director Jay Roach (Meet the Parents). The comedy stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as rival politicians vying to represent a small North Carolina district. Cox will star as Galifianakis’s distant father who is also a former senator. Hit the jump for more on both projects.

In addition to RZA’s casting, Variety reports that Misty Upham (Frozen River) has also been added as Minnie, a trading post bar owner. They join the already phenomenal cast of Django Unchained, which features Foxx as a slave-turned-bounty hunter who sets out with his mentor (Christoph Waltz) to rescue his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the evil plantation owner, Calvin Candie (DiCaprio).

On top of his Wu-Tang Clan duties and scoring Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Kill Bill: Vol. 2, RZA has been building a name for himself in Hollywood over the last few years. His resume includes American Gangster, Funny People, Due Date and The Next Three Days. RZA recently wrapped on Paramount’s G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation and can next be seen in A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas. He will also star in his directorial debut The Man with the Iron Fists, which he co-wrote with Eli Roth.

Also from Variety comes the news of Cox’s addition to Dog Fight. In addition to Ferrell and Galifianakis, the comedy also stars Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses), Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story), Sarah Baker (Sweet Home Alabama) and Katherine LaNassa (Alfie). The script for Dog Fight was written by Chris Henchy (The Other Guys) and Shawn Harwell (Eastbound & Down).  Production will start this month in New Orleans with a release date scheduled for August 10, 2012…just in time for the next US Presidential election.