Once Upon a Time in Hollywood producers spills new details on Tarantino film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

When Quentin Tarantino's ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD was revealed, it had been rumoured that it would focus on the Charles Manson murders, but producer David Heyman made sure to point out to Entertainment Weekly that the film is not a Manson murder movie. "That’s one of the big misconceptions to clarify," Heyman said. That's not to say that Manson and his deadly cult don't have an important role to play in the film, as fellow producer Shannon McIntosh explains that ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD is "about the loss of innocence that came about in 1969 with the Manson family."

In Los Angeles circa 1969, everything in changing, and TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) are struggling to make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. "It’s the three classes of Hollywood," says Heyman. "There’s the high Hollywood of Sharon [Tate], the declining star of Rick, and there’s Cliff, who lives farther out and with more humble means." Heyman added that DiCaprio's Rick Dalton is "not the movie star that he had hoped to be, so he’s struggling — he’s a working actor, but he’s not a movie star," while Pitt's Cliff Booth is "at ease, and comfortable with who he is." Heyman continued:

These are two people who have a history together and the loyalty that they have for one another is really potent. It’s really a film about that friendship and about the power of that friendship as they go on their journeys together and separately.

Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, and both Quentin Tarantino and Robbie prepared the role very carefully with the blessing of Tate's sister Debra Tate. Shannon McIntosh explained that Robbie "wanted to honor Sharon’s memory and she really drilled down to make sure that she got the best performance and was really embracing all that Sharon was." McIntosh added that Tarantino "absolutely embraced Debra Tate, and that was very important to him and to us that she’d be comfortable with what we’re doing because obviously anyone thinking that we’re making it a Manson movie, which we’re not, but he was very sensitive to that and remains sensitive to that." At the end of the day, David Heyman believes that ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD is Quentin Tarantino's most personal film. "This is his memories of growing up in Los Angeles and being a fan of Hollywood," Heyman said. "It’s just so singularly told because it’s Quentin Tarantino turning his eye on his hometown. Nobody else could have made this film." As for whether the film will debut at Cannes next month as has been expected, Heyman cautioned that they'll have to wait and see if it's ready. "I know films are being announced, we have a little bit more time to decide. If we can get it ready, we will go. We’d like to go, of course, but at the same time, the film’s got to be all that it can be," Heyman explained.

The official synopsis for ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD:

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD will hit theaters on July 26, 2019.