First Look: Michael Fassbender In ‘Inglourious Basterds’; Plus Quentin Says Screw It, Gives Away The Whole Ending

Ok, first off here’s our first look at British German/Irish actor Michael Fassbender (“Hunger”) from Quentin Tarantino’s campy WWII romp “Inglourious Basterds” (is it just us or does Fassbender’s head looked photoshopped on in this photo from Empire magazine?).

In a different world, in a separate timeline this would be Simon Pegg lighting Bridget Von Hammersmark’s (as played by Diane Kruger) cigarette as he was once on board to play the role of British Lt. Archie Hicox (dressed in German officer disguise here), but had to drop out because of prior commitments (would that have been “Star Trek”?).

And yes, everyone and their mother has seemingly read the script to “Inglourious Basterds,” as it evidently leaked like two days after Tarantino handed it in to the Weinstein Company, so in discussing the film to any magazine, Quentin basically talks with the implicit understanding that everyone knows how it’s going to end anyhow, so why try and hide it.

[SPOILER AHEAD if you’re one of the rare few who don’t know how it ends]. “This film revolves around a premiere –which, even though it’s a period movie, is something everyone can understand. But there’s also something kind of horrific about the idea of blowing up a bunch of people in a movie theater… and then inviting a bunch of people into a movie theater to watch it. Which is exactly what we’re doing!” he cackled with laughter.

The scene from whence the picture above comes from is in a French tavern called, La Louisiane, and Quentin seems to be so sure that it will be all but an unforgettable classic, he’s given to calling it “La Louisiane” sequence. We learned our lesson with doubting Tarantino with the whole Cannes thing, and the scene is pretty excellent in the script, so maybe it’ll turn out to be something rather memorable.

“It’s 24 page set in a small room. It’s ‘Resevoir Dogs’ reduced to 24 minutes,” he boasts and calls the scene the film’s “Gettysburg.” ‘Basterds’ premieres at Cannes 2009 and then hits U.S. theaters August 21.