Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained was originally set to start filming this month before an unexplained delay pushed production into February. Hopefully this doesn’t affect the planned Christmas Day 2012 release - we don’t want to wait another full year for the next QT - and that the delays are just part of the director making sure everything is perfectly in place. Speaking of all the elements being in place, the writer-director has just cast newcomer Danièle Watts in a small role in the slavery revenge flick.

The Playlist reports that Watts has just been cast in the highly anticipated follow up to Inglorious Basterds. Watts, who has only been seen in bit-parts on TV shows like 90210 and Castle, has a few feature films on the way and despite her relative inexperience is going to get to play with some heavy hitters in the Tarantino film. The source says that the young actress has been brought in to play the role of Coco.

Those that have read the script know that the Coco part is not very big, but it will offer Watts the opportunity to appear on-screen with members of the critically acclaimed cast. And even if she doesn’t get the chance to share scenes with the every actor in the movie, just watching pros like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz (among others) should prove an invaluable experience. Oh, and since Quentin Tarantino awards-primed releases are about as big as you can get - not to mention he’s directed several actors to Academy Award nominations (and a win for Waltz) - it’s pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity. No pressure, Ms. Watts.