'Inglourious Basterds' Cast Then Vs Now: Their Shocking Transformations

Prior to Inglourious Basterds, Christoph Waltz worked primarily in German television without international recognition. His breakout performance as the multilingual "Jew Hunter" Colonel Hans Landa earned him his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and changed his life forever. 

Waltz later collaborated again with Tarantino in Django Unchained, winning a second Oscar for his performance as Dr. King Schultz. He joined the James Bond franchise as villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Spectre and No Time to Die, and starred in films like The French Dispatch and Alita: Battle Angel. His methodical, sophisticated approach to villainous characters has made him one of Hollywood's most distinctive performers.

Brad Pitt portrayed the gruff, Tennessee-born lieutenant leading a special force of Jewish-American soldiers on a mission of Nazi vengeance. Already an established Hollywood star with iconic roles in Fight Club, Ocean's Eleven, and Se7en, Pitt's career reached even greater heights in the following years. 

He won his first acting Academy Award for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, having previously produced the Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave. His projects also include the 2022 action-comedy Bullet Train and the Formula One racing drama F1, while his production company Plan B continues to back critically acclaimed films.

Best known for his role as Ryan Howard on the American version of The Office (where he also served as a writer and producer), B.J. Novak played Private First Class Smithson "The Little Man" Utivich. 

After Inglourious Basterds, Novak completed his work on The Office until its conclusion in 2013. He subsequently authored the bestselling short story collection One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories and the children's book The Book With No Pictures. His 2022 feature directorial debut with Vengeance, a dark comedy-thriller which he wrote and starred in, showcased his diverse talents beyond acting.

As the perceptive Gestapo Major Dieter Hellstrom who nearly uncovers the Basterds' plot in the tavern scene, August Diehl was already established in German cinema through his breakthrough role in 23. 

Following Inglourious Basterds, Diehl appeared in international productions including Salt alongside Angelina Jolie and Allied with Brad Pitt. His lead role in Terrence Malick's critically acclaimed A Hidden Life as Austrian conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter demonstrated his dramatic range. Diehl continues working primarily in European cinema, maintaining his reputation as one of Germany's most accomplished actors.

As Shosanna Dreyfus, the Jewish cinema owner plotting revenge against the Nazis who murdered her family, Mélanie Laurent was largely unknown internationally though established in French cinema. Since then, she has built an impressive career both in front of and behind the camera. 

Laurent appeared in Hollywood productions like Now You See Me and 6 Underground while simultaneously developing her directorial voice with acclaimed films including Breathe and Galveston. Her 2021 environmental documentary The Mad Women's Ball for Amazon Studios showcased her commitment to socially conscious filmmaking.

Michael Fassbender's role as British Lieutenant Archie Hicox led to one of the film's most tense scenes. Having begun gaining attention for roles in 300 and Hunger, Inglourious Basterds significantly elevated his profile. 

Fassbender quickly became one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors, earning Oscar nominations for Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave. In addition to portraying Magneto in the X-Men prequel franchise, he collaborated with acclaimed directors like Ridley Scott in the Alien prequels and David Fincher in The Killer. Between acting projects, Fassbender pursues his passion for motorsports, competing professionally in various racing series.