Kevin Costner exits Quentin Tarantino film

Los Angeles: Hollywood actor Kevin Costner has dropped out of Quentin Tarantino`s upcoming film `Django Unchained` due to scheduling issues.

The 56-year-old `Company Men` actor was expected to play sadistic Ace Woody in the Tarantino-directed drama, reported Ace Showbiz. While further details of his departure are still under wraps, it is assumed that his involvement in Zack Snyder`s `Man of Steel` is the reason why he left `Django`. Besides, Costner has other jobs on his sleeves, including a miniseries on History Channel, `The Hatfields and the McCoys`, and a movie `A Little World of Our Own`, where he serves as the director. Back in July, it was reported that Costner was in talks to be part of `Django Unchained`. Costner, who won an Oscar for his directorial stint in 1990`s `Dances with Wolves`, was eyed to star as Ace Woody, an evil trainer of male fighting slaves and of female prostitutes. Although Costner has left the film project, it still has a set of remarkable cast members. Jamie Foxx is set to play the titular character, a slave who escapes from his evil plantation owner Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Samuel L Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Gerald McRaney will also star in the film. Set to begin the production in New Orleans this October, the drama is slated for a December 25, 2012 release in US theaters. PTI