Watching a new Quentin Tarantino project take shape is always exciting, especially as the director typically attracts some fairly impressive talent, and his next film, which will be set in the late 60's against the backdrop of the Manson Family murders, is certainly being set up as a star-studded affair. Leonardo DiCaprio signed on to the film just last week, and now a few more details about his role have emerged.
Initially describing Leonardo DiCaprio's role as that of an "aging actor," Deadline's Mike Fleming has provided some more information on the character.
What he plays, more specifically, is an actor who had his own Western show, Bounty Law, that ran on the air from 1958 to 1963. His attempt to transition to movies didn’t work out and in 1969 — the film is set at the height of hippy Hollywood movement– he’s guesting on other people’s shows while contemplating going to Italy which has become a hotbed for low-budget Westerns.
Casting for the project, which Fleming called a "Pulp Fiction-esque tapestry of Los Angeles during the summer of the Manson murders," will continue as the search for the other male lead narrows. Both Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise have been mentioned in regards to another role, and Fleming adds that we should "keep an eye on Tom Cruise, who might well surface as the other big male superstar in Tarantino’s film." The other large role in the film will be the sidekick/stunt double to Leonardo DiCaprio's character, who is also searching for a way to break into the film business. Anything could happen, so until something official is released, keep your spoonful of salt handy.
As well as this project, Quentin Tarantino is also developing an R-rated STAR TREK film for Paramount Pictures. Yep. The director came up with a "great idea" for a STAR TREK film which he then shared with J.J. Abrams, who then set up a writer's room consisting of Lindsey Beer (CHAOS WALKING), Drew Pearce (IRON MAN 3), Megan Amram (Parks and Recreation), and Mark L. Smith (THE REVENANT). From that group, Tarantino chose Mark L. Smith to put together the script while he continues work on the Manson Family film. Word is that Quentin Tarantino may actually direct the film, which, if so, would make it his final feature-film as he's long said that he'd retire after ten movies.