Quentin Tarantino is one of the most successful directors of all time with his funny yet dark-humored plots and it is no secret that the director only wants to work with a select group of actors only. Although Tarantino has said that he is open to working with new actors, he wants to make sure that they are a good fit for his films. His decision has been both praised and criticized by many celebrities.
Quentin Tarantino has delivered some of the best movies the industry has ever seen with movies like Reservoir Dogs, and Pulp Fiction. However the studio wanted to cast Johnny Depp for a specific role in Pulp Fiction but Tarantino cast Tim Roth against their decision.
Tim Roth Bagged His Reservoir Dogs Role From Being Drunk With Quentin Tarantino
Tim Roth met Quentin Tarantino while they were both intoxicated and landed the part of Mr. Orange in Reservoir Dogs. Although Roth loved the Reservoir Dogs script after reading it, he was afraid to apply for the part since he didn’t think he was a talented actor and he even admitted to being terrible at auditions.
Tarantino didn’t think Roth was telling the truth nor did he think that the actor was weak at auditions. Roth was invited by Tarantino to his flat where they both drank and read the screenplay. Although they drank a couple of beers, they headed to a bar to continue their drinking spree. They continued to drink and read the screenplay once they returned to Tarantino’s flat.
Also read: Quentin Tarantino: Ranking his Top 10 Unforgettable Films
By the end of the night, Roth was feeling quite confident and was at ease. Tarantino was captivated by the man’s enthusiasm and conviction as he read the screenplay. He made Roth an immediate offer to play Mr. Orange. Not only did he accept the part, Roth went on to provide a much-praised performance. Since then, he has collaborated with Tarantino on several other movies, such as Pulp Fiction and The Hateful Eight. Roth recalled,
“Within 20 pages, I was going, ‘Oh, I want to be in this.’ It’s so beautifully written. It’s so keenly and intelligently written. And it’s also very funny. We proceeded to read the entire script, every part in it about 10 times because we were hammered by then. And that’s how I got the job.”
Quentin Tarantino Chose Tim Roth Over Johnny Depp
Tim Roth, with whom Tarantino had previously collaborated in Reservoir Dogs, was Tarantino’s first option for the character of Pumpkin in Pulp Fiction. However, the studio preferred Depp for the part. Depp was too big of a star, in Tarantino’s opinion, for a little character like Pumpkin. He said that he didn’t believe Depp would be a good fit for the part.
In the end, Tim Roth was chosen to play Pumpkin because Tarantino had his way. Due to his dismay, Depp reportedly avoided Tarantino for several years. Quentin Tarantino has a strong preference for Tim Roth and he believes that Roth is a gifted actor who can bring his characters to life. Additionally, he is also willing to fight for Roth, even if it means going against the studio.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
