Two of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan have a combined filmography filled with some of the respected projects seen in cinema. This has led to both of their names holding a lot of sway in the world. The impact that their movies have seldom goes unnoticed. That also was the case when Nolan claimed one of Tarantino’s films as his favorite.
The Hateful Eight is a movie appreciated by many, critics and fans alike. Nolan is no exception to this, having only praise for the 2015 movie. However, it is interesting to find out that there was almost a chance for Tarantino’s film to not be made at all. The reason being, a betrayal that the Pulp Fiction director did not see coming.
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Quentin Tarantino Lost Trust in His Most Ideal Casting Choices
When Quentin Tarantino first wrote the script for The Hateful Eight, he never imagined a massive leak to take place. When addressing this, he spoke to Deadline, talking about how it took every ounce of his body to not keep the film aside because the entire world was aware of the idea anyway. He revealed that the script was given to a producer of Django Unchained, which is where it was leaked after it was passed through many hands.
“I gave it to one of the producers on Django Unchained, Reggie Hudlin, and he let an agent come to his house and read it,” he added. “I gave it to three actors: Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth. The one I know didn’t do this is Tim Roth. One of the others let their agent read it, and that agent has now passed it on to everyone in Hollywood.”
Going from one agent to the next, finding one actor after another, the script was leaked. Tarantino gave the script to three actors, out of which he only trusted one, Tim Roth. The other two, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern did not receive the same sentiment. It is safe to say, that the director was not happy with the scenario taking place, wanting to scrap and let go of the film altogether.
Quentin Tarantino was Ready to Drop The Hateful Eight
When making any project, trust is a factor that holds significant value, and this is something that Quentin Tarantino believes in deeply. This is why he could not trust anyone after such a heartbreaking betrayal. So much so, that he found no point in making the film. Speaking with Deadline, he admitted that the script would only be published and he would “move on to the next.”
“If I can’t trust them to that degree, then I have no desire to make it.”
Naturally, that did not turn out to be his final decision. He sat a live reading for the script, stating that he would stick to his first draft despite having written two more and changing the ending. The set was closed off and only his most trusted people were made a part of The Hateful Eight. The care that was given in the making of this film proves why audiences love it so much, and it would seem that Christopher Nolan is one of them.
“Watching this film, it felt like it had an increased level of formalism. There is a real calm and thought for where the camera is always. It’s also in the music. There is a great sense of the history of cinema in it.”
Nolan had been very vocal about his love for the film with Quentin Tarantino in a Q&A for the Directors’ Guild of America, showcasing his appreciation, referring to it as a piece of art. From the way it was directed to the music it incorporated, there was always something that caught the director’s eye.
