Quentin Tarantino is putting together a hell of a cast for his upcoming “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” While we already knew about Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, today’s news reveals who will be surrounding those actors in the slightly-based-on-a-true-story of late-‘60s era Hollywood.
According to Deadline, Burt Reynolds has signed on for the role of George Spahn, and is joined by Tarantino main-stays Kurt Russell, Michael Madsen, and Tim Roth. Reynolds has been fairly quiet in recent years, not starring in many high-profile projects. The Tarantino-directed ‘Once Upon a Time’ is perhaps his biggest role since Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” back in 1997.
As mentioned above, Reynolds plays George Spahn, a real person that found himself at the center of the famous Manson killings of that time. Spahn, who rented his ranch out to productions to use in Westerns, was convinced to rent out his property to Charles Manson and his “family” in the time before they murdered Sharon Tate (to be played in the film by Robbie).
Russell, Madsen, and Roth all signed for the film in unspecified roles. However, we could have guessed that these three would show up in the film, in some capacity. Kurt Russell, of course, starred in “The Hateful Eight,” as well as “Death Proof.” Tim Roth also appeared in ‘Hateful Eight,’ but can also be seen in classic Tarantino films “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs.” Michael Madsen, on the other hand, has had roles in just about every Tarantino movie to date and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Tarantino has recently said that “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is the closest thing to “Pulp Fiction” he’s worked on. The film tells the story of Rick Dalton, former TV star played by DiCaprio, and his stunt double Cliff Booth, played by Pitt, as they struggle to make it in Hollywood as the times change. Things get even more complicated when Dalton’s next-door neighbor, Sharon Tate, is brutally murdered.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” will be released by Sony on August 9, 2019.