Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino brought in two of the biggest names in the film industry Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio together for his 2019 Western comedy Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Based in 1969 Los Angeles, the movie follows a Hollywood star [DiCaprio] and his stunt double [Pitt] as they navigate the swiftly changing landscape of the film industry, overshadowed by the looming threat of the Tate murders.
Despite their undeniable chemistry on screen, many have wondered why these two iconic actors hadn’t collaborated earlier. When asked about the same during an interview, the Fight Club star offered a playful response, humorously suggesting the reason behind their prolonged absence from joint projects.
Brad Pitt’s Playful Response to Delayed Collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio
In a conversation with ExtraTV during a premiere of the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Brad Pitt was asked about the reason behind the delayed collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor jokingly answered the question, saying that he had a “restraining order” against his fellow actor for a while.
“Yeah, I had a restraining order against him for a while,” he said before adding, “incident in ’94 we don’t like to talk about.” Pitt further suggested humorously that the acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino brought them back together.
While the Bullet Train star appeared to make a jest, speculation suggests that it may have something to do with Pitt’s ex Gwyneth Paltrow. The two started dating in 1994 and were together for about three years, before going their separate ways.
Paltrow has admitted in an interview that the Titanic star tried making a move on her, but she turned him down. “Nope, never made out with Leo. He tried back in the day,” the Seven actress revealed during a conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast.
However, the Hollywood stars appear to have buried the hatchet and have shared a good friendship since their collaboration on the 2019 film. Both actors have openly lauded each other and expressed their mutual admiration.
Leonardo DiCaprio And Brad Pitt’s Friendship Naturally Got Along
Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt have been in the film industry for decades and were able to bond over their shared experience while working on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In a conversation with The New York Times, Pitt described their friendship as “pretty automatic.” He explained,
“I’ve always felt that you don’t understand the deal you’re making when suddenly you’re that lone gazelle on the plain and the herd’s gone, so to speak—And, you know, my friend here [he gestures toward DiCaprio] has been the same.”
DiCaprio also echoed similar sentiments while talking to Entertainment Tonight, as he shared that the chemistry between the two “really came naturally.” The Oscar-winning actor said,
“We both live in Los Angeles and this is about the changing of the culture in the late 60s, and we understand these dynamics of these professional relationships that also turn into families.”
While DiCaprio and Pitt officially shared the screen for the first time in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film, the Hollywood stars also appeared in Martin Scorsese’s commercial short film, The Audition. It features DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro and Pitt had a brief cameo. However, neither of them has discussed their shared experience on the 2015 comedy short film.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is available to stream on Hulu.
