John Travolta's acting career has certainly had its peaks and valleys. The actor started out hot with hits like GREASE, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, and BLOW OUT. However, the Bee Gee strutting badboy hit a bit of a lull in the 1980s with bombs like PERFECT and TWO OF A KIND. When Travolta started making films about talking babies, many thought his career had landed in the trashbin of Hollywood history.
Enter Quentin Tarantino.
The auteur director of PULP FICTION cast John Travolta as Vincent Vega in that self-same film and Travolta's career trajectory went into the stratosphere. PULP FICTION earned John Travolta his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and a string of hits including GET SHORTY, FACE/OFF, and BROKEN ARROW followed. In the years since PULP FICTION changed cinema in 1994, Quentin Tarantino has gone on to direct seven feature films. Unfortunately, none of those have starred John Travolta, but it's not for lack of interest.
This past weekend, both Travolta and Tarantino were celebrating Tarantino's Oscar contender ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD at The Musso and Frank Grill in Los Angeles. While there, a reporter asked if Travolta would be interested in reuniting with Quentin Tarantino for another film. The short answer – absolutely:
“I would love that. These great directors, they hire you because 90% of their job is done when they cast you. Because they believe you’re the rightest person, so you don’t ever want to force something that isn’t organic. Look how much Quentin fought for me to be in ‘Pulp Fiction.’ This guy put his reputation, his career on the line because he had that much confidence. You give them their leeway, just like you want your leeway and you don’t force that hand.”
Honestly I would welcome the return of Travolta to the Tarantino fold. The two clearly had a rapport in PULP FICTION and remain friends to this day. The fact that these two haven't hooked up in a film again in twenty-five years is almost criminal. Additionally, Travolta isn't exactly lighting up the box office with films like GOTTI, I AM WRATH, and TRADING PAINT. His career could definitely use another shot in the arm. Why not a second round from the man who helped revive his career two and a half decades ago?
If Travolta hopes to reunite with Tarantino however he better do it fast. The director has gone on record as saying that his next film will be his last, and that after that he'd like to write novels. Then again George Lucas swore off STAR WARS for good back in the 80s, desiring to do experimental films, and look how that turned out.
What say you guys? Would you relish a John Travolta/Quentin Tarantino reunion? Sound off in the comments below!