Talk about trading up.  Last week we reported that Nicolas Cage had dropped out of "The Green Hornet" and it wasn't the worst news in the world but it did open the door to who would replace him.  Well those who dared to dream big and outside the box just got their wish.  Christoph Waltz, who plays the terrifying and unforgettable Hans Landa in Quentin Taranatino's "Inglourious Basterds", and if there's any justice will be the owner of a Best Supporting Actor Oscar by the time "Green Hornet" hits theaters next December.  Cut the tension and hit the jump.

According to Deadline Hollywood Daily, Waltz has been hired to play the villain Chudnofsky against Seth Rogen's Green Hornet and Jay Chou's Kato.  Waltz received the Best Actor award at this year's Cannes Film Festival and with "Inglourious Basterds" crossing the $100 million mark this past weekend, it's not just a critically acclaimed performance but one the masses are seeing and talking about.

For all it's difficulties, you have to give Seth Rogen and the film's producers for not only over-coming obstacles but finding ways to improve on their previous decisions.  Stephen Chow would have been a great director for the film, but Michel Gondry is going to show us something we've never seen from him before.  I don't know how Jay Chou is going to work out but I'm happy I can go in without any preconceived notions about him.  And now replacing someone as predictable as Nicolas Cage with an actor like Waltz is a stroke of genius.  Ever since Seth Rogen stepped into the lead role and co-wrote the film with his writing partner Evan Goldberg, this film has defied the conventional wisdom of what an action blockbuster has to be.

Sure, there's the question of whether this role is beneath Waltz or if he can take something that's not as deep as Landa and turn it into another fantastic performance.  I'll admit that I haven't seen anything else from his body of work but his casting in "Basterds" for such an important role means that he has the Quentin Tarantino seal of approval and when it comes to actors that's all I need.

"The Green Hornet" is currently slated to hit theaters on December 17th, 2010.