After getting romanced by everyone in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino has signed up with Sony for his new movie, which currently has the working title “#9” (because it’s his ninth film). The movie, which is set in 1969, and will spin a story involving the murder of Sharon Tate by Charles Manson’s followers, is bringing plenty to the table, including Margot Robbie in the lead role as Sharon Tate, with Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio all mentioned as possibilities for parts. However, it’s going to be expensive — the budget is rumored to be around $100 million. Not only that, it will have to be one of the director’s biggest movies of his career to turn a profit.
THR notes that “#9” will need to earn $375 million worldwide to break even. That’s a big goal to reach. To date, the director has only crossed that number once — with 2012’s “Django Unchained,” which earned $425 million worldwide. The next closest is “Inglourious Basterds,” which tallied $321 million worldwide. Tarantino’s last movie, “The Hateful Eight,” was considered a disappointment financially, earning $155 million globally, on a budget of $44 million (and remember, that doesn’t include marketing, and the very expensive costs The Weinstein Company paid out to set up 70mm projectors across the country).
All that being said, the new movie is apparently in the vein of “Pulp Fiction” — easily Tarantino’s most popular effort — and it reportedly “has heart and a strong commercial appeal.” Obviously, Sony liked the script the read, and wouldn’t make a deal with Tarantino if they didn’t think he could deliver. Moreover, Sony handled the international distribution of “Django Unchained,” so they know what they’re getting into and how bring the filmmaker’s work to market abroad. And while it’s a high bar to clear, Tarantino has reached the stage in his career where every movie is treated as a major cinematic event. “#9” should be no different.