Once Upon a Time in Hollywood The Rewatchables
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood poster
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Casting What-Ifs

Bert Reynolds in the Bruce Dern role; James Marsden as Bert Reynolds; Tim Roth's cut role; Jennifer Lawrence as Sharon Tate

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:18Read transcript
  • Bruce Dern was not the first choice; the hosts say the first choice was Bert Reynolds, who died during rehearsals. Reactions to Dern are mixed; one view is that Reynolds would have been a better touch because he was almost a Rick Dalton, while Dern was always the bad guy in westerns.
  • Tim Roth and James Marsden were cut from the film; Marsden played Bert Reynolds in a deleted scene and is said not to look or sound like him.
  • Tarantino is said to have approached Jennifer Lawrence for Sharon Tate; the crowd reacts and the hosts doubt it would have worked.
  • The Marvin role was written specifically for its actor, consistent with Tarantino's process as he described it on earlier episodes.
  • Reports that Samuel L. Jackson had a major role and that Tom Cruise was considered for Cliff are treated as unconfirmed gossip; Tarantino is thought to want to work with Cruise.