AceShowbiz -

"The Hateful Eight" has found its female lead. According to The Wrap, Jennifer Jason Leigh who plays the mother of Emily VanCamp's Emily Thorne on "Revenge" is tapped to portray one of the key characters in Quentin Tarantino's much-anticipated western pic.

She is expected to play Daisy Domergue who is wanted for murder and due to hang for her crimes. The coveted role was reportedly pursued by the likes of Michelle Williams, Hilary Swank, Robin Wright, and Demi Moore during the past few months.

Back in April, Amber Tamblyn who starred in Tarantino's "Django Unchained" read the role of Daisy in a live reading of the "Hateful Eight" script at LACMA. Leigh also attended the event back then, sitting next to Harvey and Bob Weinstein, as well as producer Stacey Sher.

The movie is set in Wyoming after the Civil War. It revolves around a pitiless and mistrustful group which includes a competing pair of bounty hunters, a renegade Confederate soldier and a female prisoner as they wait for a storm to pass. Four other men who may or may not be attempting to free the captive are also trapped with them in the bad weather.

Bruce Dern will play General Smithers. He will be joined by Tarantino's past collaborators like Samuel L. Jackson as Major Warren, Kurt Russell as John Ruth, Tim Roth as Oswaldo Mobray, Michael Madsen as Joe Gage, Walton Goggins as Chris Mannix, and Denis Menochet as Bob.

James Remar (Jody), James Parks (O.B.), Dana Gourrier (Minnie) and Tarantino's "Death Proof" star Zoe Bell (Six-Horse Judy) are expected to round up the cast ensemble. The film is planned for 2015 release.