In a new book that reveals behind-the-scenes stories of “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”, Brad Pitt talks about Burt Reynolds, who died at the age of 82 in September 2018, before he could film his scenes for the movie.
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Pitt did not hold back his praise for Reynolds as he recalled the rehearsals they did together, revealing that the time spent alongside the late actor was one of the best experiences he has ever had in the film industry.
In the book “The Making of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” by Jay Glennie, Pitt, 61, spoke about the experience: “Spending time with Burt Reynolds in those days was just everything, man,” said the actor. “He was the guy, and there will never be anyone like him,” he reflected.
Reynolds was originally cast in Quentin Tarantino’s film as George Spahn, the owner of a ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles. His character appears when Cliff Booth, played by Pitt, visits the location and finds it inhabited by a group of people connected to Charles Manson.
Like Pitt, Tarantino also shared his emotion about working alongside the Hollywood legend and revealed that the film’s rehearsals were the last time Reynolds ever acted.
“To cap off this whole moving episode involving me, Burt Reynolds, and his participation in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Burt Reynolds’ last acting performance was reciting my lines when Brad Pitt acted with him under my direction during the rehearsal,” Tarantino says in the book. “It was the last role Burt ever played.”
The 2019 film was written and directed by Tarantino, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in the leading roles. The dramatic comedy is a nostalgic tribute to the end of Hollywood’s golden age. The story takes place in the late 1960s and blends fictional characters with real-life figures and historical events, such as the murders committed by the Manson Family.
Images: reproduction Columbia Pictures, A24. This content was written with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
