Leonardo DiCaprio seems to be chasing his own self in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. In the film, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was sent to look into the grisly deaths in 1920s Oklahoma.
Based on David Grann’s non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, this epic tale reveals the brutal truth about the tragedy of the Osage community.
Leonardo DiCaprio Ended Up Pursuing Himself In Killers Of The Flower Moon
In Killers of the Flower Moon, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart and Robert De Niro’s William King Hale were arrested for their crimes. Jesse Plemons’ agent Tom White revealed it was ordered by his boss, J. Edgar Hoover. The name might probably ring a bell.
Fans would recall DiCaprio starred in Clint Eastwood’s 2011 film J. Edgar. He played the titular role of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who served through eight presidents and three wars and became one of the most powerful men in America. Interestingly, fans can conclude that DiCaprio was hunting himself in Killers of the Flower Moon.
Eastwood’s J. Edgar is famously known for its “Oscar buzz” due to its prestigious reputation. Produced by a major studio and helmed by a prolific director would definitely earn the film a winning spot at the Academy Awards.
Unfortunately, the film was snubbed at the Oscars, taking home not even one nomination. It also received fewer accolades from other film critics associations than fans would have expected. As of this writing, it currently holds a 43% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Martin Scorsese Revised The Script As Per Leonardo DiCaprio’s Suggestion
Originally, Plemon’s Tom White and the FBI would be the focus of the story, but Martin Scorsese decided to change the narrative as per DiCaprio’s proposition. This implies that J. Edgar Hoover could have had a bigger role in the film. Nonetheless, the revision proved to be a better story as it veered away from the typical whodunit tale.
In an interview with Deadline, Scorsese revealed he decided to transform the script into a deep exploration of human nature. He stated:
“Eric Roth and I were writing the script from the point of view of the FBI coming in and unraveling everything. Look, the minute the FBI comes in, and you see a character that would be played by Robert De Niro, Bill Hale, you know he’s a bad guy. There’s no mystery. So, what is it? A police procedural? Who cares!”
DiCaprio was originally cast as Tom White, but he proposed to play the more challenging part of Burkhart. Scorsese commended him:
“He goes to these weird places that are so difficult and convoluted, and through the convolution, somehow there’s a clarity that we reach. And usually it’s in the expression, in his face, in his eyes. I’ve always told him this. He’s a natural film actor.”
Whether the actor’s casting in Killers of the Flower Moon and J. Edgar was a mere coincidence or not, it has brought an interesting topic that fans can discuss after seeing Scorsese’s film.
