Rumor: Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time' Might Not Be Ready For The 2019 Cannes Film Festival

It was assumed to be a lock for this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Hell, it was such a lock that many were predicting exactly what day and time the film would show. But just a week or so out from the official lineup being announced, it appears that Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is far from guaranteed to show up at the French festival, and at this time, might actually be a no-show.

According to a report from Showbiz411, writer Roger Friedman says that Tarantino’s highly-anticipated 9th film is one of Cannes’ most-wanted projects, but may have to sit the festival out, as the filmmaker has yet to put the final touches on his work. The report states that the film isn’t currently ready and may not be ready in time for the official announcement next week or even its expected premiere in mid-May, which would have marked the 25th anniversary of Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” Cannes premiere.

No reason was given for the delay other than the sheer size of the production and the crazy amount of moving parts associated with ‘Once Upon a Time.’ The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, alongside one of the best casts ever assembled for a Tarantino film, as a struggling, aging actor and his stunt double, as they attempt to navigate a changing Hollywood in 1969. And while the duo is trying to figure out their lives, their neighbor, Sharon Tate, is brutally murdered by Charles Manson’s “family.”

It was widely assumed that ‘Once Upon a Time’ would have a triumphant premiere at Cannes this year, with the special “Pulp Fiction” anniversary, Tarantino’s relationship with the festival, and the release date that hits only a couple of months after the event. Alas, it appears, at least at this moment, that Cannes may lose out on one of the biggest premieres available for 2019.

We’ll find out soon enough, as the lineup is expected to be announced next week, and the festival kicks off on May 14.