The first photos from Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight have been released, giving fans the first look at the Tarantino western that almost wasn’t.

First ‘The Hateful Eight’ Photos: Character Portraits

Tarantino almost abandoned The Hateful Eight after a script for the film was leaked and found its way online, but he pressed on with production, casting Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh, among others. Finally, the first photos from the film were released via EW, which features Jackson, Leigh and Russell on the cover of their newest issue.

Andrew Cooper for EW

The Hateful Eight will tell the bloody story of a group of Wild West bounty hunters, trapped in a blizzard. In the film, a mustached Russell plays John ‘The Hangman’ Ruth, a mean bounty hunter, who has captured Daisy Domergue (Leigh), a murderous outlaw.

Andrew Cooper for EW

While many cast members have worked with Tarantino in the past, this will be Leigh’s first time working with the Pulp Fiction director. “I knew Quentin, but I had never had a chance to work with him, and I really wanted to,” Leigh told the magazine.

Other photos show Bruce Dern as General Sandy Smithers, Tim Roth as Oswaldo Mobray, Walton Goggins as Chris Mannix, Demian Bichir as Bob ‘The Mexican’ and Jackson as Union officer Major Marquis Warren.

Andrew Cooper for EW

Jackson previously showed off his Hateful Eight beard during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, calling it his “job face.”

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.