After months of hearing slivers of news about Quentin Tarantino’s next film project, we finally have some concrete details about its plot, cast and title. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will take place in Los Angeles in 1969, during “the height of hippy Hollywood.” Tarantino alumni Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt will star as Western star Rick Dalton and stunt double Cliff Booth, respectively.
While it has been previously reported that Tarantino’s film will focus on the Manson family murders, Tarantino has since stated that the historical event will be more of a backdrop to this sprawling Pulp Fiction-esque story. Still, the premise is described as the following: “Both [Dalton and Booth] are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor…Sharon Tate.”
The reasoning for the slow reveals of information regarding the project is likely due to “strenuous” negotiations, with Tarantino breaking off ties with The Weinstein Company (for obvious reasons) and pairing with Sony Pictures, with DiCaprio apparently almost walking away back in January. In the end, Leo probably couldn’t wait to get his hands bloody with Tarantino again.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will release on Aug. 9, 2019. It will be Tarantino’s ninth film, out of what he plans to be ten films in his career. His tenth film, as of now, bafflingly may be a Star Trek movie with J.J. Abrams. Look forward to more casting news for Hollywood in the future—we imagine Christoph Waltz will be back to overshadow everyone once again.
Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio to Star in Quentin Tarantino’s Sharon Tate Drama [THR]
