Some filmmakers revel in the mystery of their films and TV work, as seen with people like David Lynch, for example. However, Quentin Tarantino isn’t one of those filmmakers. Maybe it’s due to his love of his own work, fans’ desperation to learn more about the worlds he creates, or just the fact that he has so much background information on the characters that populate his films, but the director is always willing to give you plenty of never-before-known goodies about every minor and major character. And with something as dense as “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” there’s plenty of previously unknown information to reveal.
Speaking to Margaret Cho on her podcast (via IndieWire), Tarantino sheds some light on what might have happened to Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) after ‘Once Upon a Time’ ends. Specifically, what his late-career might have looked like, given the events of the film.
“There are a few different ways his career could have gone depending on who you hitch your horse to of who he is representing,” said Tarantino. “The George Maharis way is this way, the Tye Hardin way is that way. It’s a combination of a few of them.”
He continued, “What could have easily have happened, even if he had a little bit more success in the 1970s than maybe I give him credit for, what I could really see happening, because it happened to a lot of these guys, is that by the late 1970s, early 1980s, a lot of these macho ’50s and ’60s television leading men they showed up on TV shows again but as the older cop who’s the boss of the younger cop that sends them out on the missions.”
As for actors that Dalton would be modeled after, in this sort of late-career, police chief guy roles, the director brings up Earl Holliman (“Starsky & Hutch”), Jack Kelly (“Maverick”), and Vic Morrow (“Mannix,” “Magnum PI,” etc…).
“I could definitely see Rick Dalton in 1978 being one of those guys,” Tarantino said.
So, for those that need fully formed headcanon for your “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” daydreams, the filmmaker is definitely here to help you fill in the blanks. Now, we just need the final word on how Cliff Booth’s wife died.