Pulp Fictionis a cinematic classic for many reasons, not least of which isbecause of its stellar cast. A who’s who of Hollywood players, the star-studded lineup inQuentin Tarantino’s sophomore effort includes a talented array of faces that were both fresh and familiar when it debuted in 1994. Aside from featuring star-making turns by then relatively unknowns likeSamuel L. JacksonandUma Thurman,Pulp Fictionis also notable for featuringa major career comebackforJohn Travoltaand a slew of cameos made by well-established actors likeChristopher Walken,Harvey Keitel, andBruce Willis.
In preparing to castPulp Fiction, Tarantino compileda lengthy list of potential actors, complete with a ranking order of his first, second, and third choices for certain roles. Fortunately, he succeeded in casting his first or second choice for several characters, while some performers who were ultimately cast didn’t even make the list. With hindsight clear as day, it’s nearly impossible to imaginePulp Fictionwithoutthe exact ensembleTarantino assembled, but the fact thatsome of the iconic crime film’s key roles nearly went to other performers makes for a fun bit of speculation.
Quentin Tarantino Wanted to Cast Matt Dillon as Butch
Among Tarantino’s wish list of actors to appear inPulp FictionwasMatt Dillon, whom the filmmaker initially wanted to cast as Butch. According to Tarantino,he wrote the role specifically for Dillon, but the actor “wasn’t so sure” and “didn’t 100 percent get it” after reading the script. Another sticking point for Dillon was that he, like many others, wanted to play Vincent Vega. In the meantime, however, Tarantino had a fortuitous encounter with Bruce Willis that proved consequential forPulp Fiction.
You’ve Got to Hear the Wild Tarantino Theory That Connects Jason Voorhees To The Three Stooges
It may seem silly, but it hits the nail on the head when it comes to violence and comedy.
A huge fan ofReservoir Dogs, Willis read thescreenplay forPulp Fictionand, like Dillon, wanted to play Vincent. After discovering Tarantino had his heart set on John Travolta for the role, Willis lobbied to play Jules, a notion that was rejected for obvious reasons. But Tarantino, convinced the actor should appear in his upcoming film, urged Willis to reread the screenplay with an eye towards playing Butch. After taking another look at the script, Willis told Tarantino, “I’m in,' lendingPulp Fictionfurther legitimacy thanks tothe actor’s status as a major Hollywood star. Willis may not have been Tarantino’s first choice, but his inclusion proved crucial to the film’s overall success and, as it turns out, Butch wasn’t the only key character the filmmaker had a difficult time casting.
Uma Thurman Almost Passed on ‘Pulp Fiction’
According to previsouly cited article fromThe Independent, Uma Thurman wasn’t on Quentin Tarantino’s original list of potential actresses to play Mia, which includedVirginia Madsen,Alfre Woodard,Jennifer Beals,Bridget Fonda, andAngela Bassett, among several others. AsPulp Fiction’s female lead, the role was likely highly sought after by many actresses but, as producerLawrence Benderrecalls, Tarantino eventually set his sights on Thurman. “Uma’s the only person he met with by himself,“Bender toldVanity Fair. The actress, however, was initially on the fence about accepting the part, considering elements of Tarantino’s screenplay to be “pretty frightening.”
John Travolta Prepared for ‘Pulp Fiction’ By Playing Board Games With Quentin Tarantino
It’s a very Tarantino anecdote.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in the movie,” she admitted years later, citing the film’s lurid subject matter — particularlythe infamous “gimp” scene— as a primary factor. Determined to win Thurman over, Tarantino spent three hours with her over dinner and proceeded to further discuss the role at her apartment in New York. Ultimately, their lengthy meeting paid off in droves, withThurman accepting a career-changing rolethat would earn her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as well as establishinga fruitful creative partnershipwith Tarantino that would lead toKill Bill. “No one could believe I even hesitated in any way,” the actress said of her reluctance to star inPulp Fiction. “Neither can I, in hindsight.”
Pulp Fictionis available to watch on Pluto TV in the U.S.
