Word ofQuentin Tarantino’s next project has started to leak out, which means it’s time for another round of “New Tarantino Movie Rumor Saga.” Indeed, unlike other filmmakers whose projects get announced via press release, or are films they’ve been talking about doing for years, the wholly unique Tarantino tends to put his movies together quietly until someone, somewhere lets it slip. Then the floodgates open and we’re left trying to put together the pieces—each new Tarantino movie is an event unto itself.
Such is certainly the case with Tarantino’s next film, which we learned last nightwill have something to do with the Manson Family murders—an event that culminated in 1969 and saw followers of cult leaderCharles Mansonbrutally murder actressSharon Tatein her home as well as four others. Tarantino has not officially revealed anything, so everything we know thus far comes from the trades, but last night’s initial reports noted that the filmmaker is working to put his cast together before setting the film up at a studio, and he’s had discussions withBrad PittandJennifer Lawrencefor roles.
And now we have a bit more clarity on who might be playing who, and what that tells us about Tarantino’s approach. Deadline notes that Pitt—who worked with Tarantino onInglourious Basterds—is being courted to play the detective investigating the murder, whileVariety’s Justin Krollinstead says he’s being eyed to play the prosecutor in the Manson trial. If Kroll’s correct on this one, it means Tarantino’s interested in going up through the trial of the Manson Family and not just chronicling their cult and violent actions. But either way, Pitt would be an exciting choice—although he could have a schedule conflict as Tarantino’s looking to shoot in Summer 2018 and that’s likely around the time that Pitt andDavid Fincherwill finally start to roll cameras onWorld War Z 2, so this casting may or may not work out.
Tarantino famously considered Lawrence for theHateful Eightrole that eventually went toJennifer Jason Leigh, but last night’s reports stressed that Lawrence isnotin contention to play Sharon Tate. Instead, Deadline says the filmmaker has met withMargot Robbieabout potentially taking on that part. They also note thatSamuel L. Jacksonis expected to have a lead role in the film—not a surprise, but great news nonetheless.
This is all very fluid at the moment as apparently no one has yet read the script, and with filming not taking place until next summer there’s plenty of time to put this together.
I’m curious to see what Tarantino has planned here. He’s not exactly one to tackle a straight true crime drama, andInglourious Basterdsput the “fiction” in “historical fiction.” Although I will admit that, considering Tarantino sayshe’s only making two more moviesbefore retiring, I’m glad he’s not making yet another Western.Django Unchainedis great andHateful Eightis, well, solid, but if we’re only getting 10 Tarantino movies in total, I’d love more variety. A film about the Manson murders is certainly different.
