Looking back at Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 crime thriller Pulp Fiction we can all agree that the casting of John Travolta, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis was top-notch, alongside the impeccable storyline. But what if we say, Willis was never on Tarantino’s long list of potential actors for the role of Butch Coolidge.
According to reports, Quentin Tarantino suggested Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage, and Johnny Depp, for the iconic role. Suggesting a lengthy list of names ahead of casting, Tarantino wanted to star the above-mentioned A-listers in his crime thriller over Bruce Willis. But things worked in favor of the Die Hard star, as he eventually appeared alongside Uma Thurman’s Mia.
Bruce Willis Wasn’t on Quentin Tarantino’s List of Actors
Landing an Academy Award for Writing following his critically acclaimed 1994 neo-noir Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino turned into a renowned filmmaker. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron, the director catapulted his reputation in the entertainment industry.
While a lot of credit undoubtedly goes to Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction, no one can deny that the movie turned eyes due to the stellar cast. Narrating four intertwining tales of crime and violence in Los Angeles, the movie starred John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis. Although the 1994 thriller starring the A-listers, turned into a cult classic, Thruman and Willis weren’t the first choice for their respective roles.
According to reports from The Digital Flix, Quentin Tarantino initially had a long list of actors ahead of casting. And quite surprisingly, neither Uma Thurman nor Bruce Willis were on the list for the role of Mia and Butch, respectively. Had Tarantino got the opportunity to work with his first choice of actors for Pulp Fiction, the movie might have featured Nicolas Cage instead of Willis.
Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp, and Sean Penn Lost to Bruce Willis
Initially, Quentin Tarantino’s list of actors started circulating on X, where it provided a fascinating insight into whom the writer-director was imagining for the lead roles. Turning out to be a sort of time capsule of early to mid-90s Hollywood actors and their star power, the list featured the likes of Nicolas Cage and a handful of other actors for different roles.
Quite fascinatingly Tarantino’s list of actresses for the role of Mia had 16 names including Marisa Tomei, Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, Bridget Fonda, and Pam Grier. Much like that even the role of Butch Coolidge that went to Bruce Willis initially didn’t feature his name on the list. Instead, Tarantino wanted Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage, Aidan Quinn, or Johnny Depp to portray the character.
Given each of the abovementioned actors’ acting skills, they would have certainly been perfect casting for the role. But watching Nicolas Cage in a Tarantino movie would definitely be something to behold. Ultimately, despite being on the list and probably being the director’s top choice, the A-listers lost the opportunity to star in Pulp Fiction. Eventually Butch went to Bruce Willis and Mia went to Uma Thurman, who later collaborated with Tarantino in the Kill Bill movies.
Pulp Fiction is available on Prime Video.
