The writer/director's revenge-driven "Southern" would feature Foxx as Django, a freed American slave who teams with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to save his wife from Calvin Candie, an evil plantation owner (to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio).
The part of Django was heavily speculated on and both Will Smith and Idris Elba were said to have been in talks.
Foxx is best known for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic, Ray. He recently appeared in Due Date and as a voice in Rio with upcoming appearances in Horrible Bosses and Kane & Lynch.
Django Unchained is expected to go into production soon, aiming for a release on Christmas Day 2012.