Originally rumored to center around the Manson murders, Quentin Tarantino‘s “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” instead uses the string of infamous crimes as a backdrop. The killings play a role, but the film primarily focuses on Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of the film industry in the late ’60s. Margot Robbie stars as Dalton’s neighbor and Manson victim Sharon Tate. You can catch some of these characters in a brand-new clip from the highly anticipated film ahead of its upcoming theatrical release.
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According to its official synopsis, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” meshes a “large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.” The Manson murders will undoubtedly fit in somewhere (or everywhere, but in the background), but the film seems to be using a wider canvas to explore ’60s-era Hollywood.
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DiCaprio and Pitt are both Tarantino veterans, having starred in “Django Unchained” and “Inglorious Basterds,” respectively. Debra Tate called Robbie a “dedicated craftsman” when she saw the time, energy, and diligence the actress put into researching her sister’s life.
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The film notably features Luke Perry‘s final performance. The 52-year-old actor died on March 4, 2019, after suffering a massive stroke on February 27. His character, Scott Lancer, is named after the Wayne Maunder-led TV show “Lancer.” The 51-episode series ran from 1968 to 1970. Maunder died on November 2018, just days after “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” finished filming.
Dakota Fanning and Al Pacino respectively star as Manson Family member Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and Dalton’s agent Marvin Schwarzs. Tim Roth, Kurt Russell, Michael Madsen, James Marsden, and others will appear in unspecified roles, though its clear Margaret Qualley is also playing a Manson girl or at least some kind of hanger-oner who gets recruited. “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” opens on July 26.
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Watch the first clip from the movie, about Pitt’s Cliff stuntman character and the strings DiCaprio’s Dalton tries to pull for him, below. Plus a bunch of new photos too.
First clip. #OnceUponATimeInHollywood pic.twitter.com/VhPR4mqiK2
— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) July 18, 2019
