Leo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt to star in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

The much talked-about Charles Manson film from director Quentin Tarantino is finally coming together. Sony Pictures won the rights to finance and distribute the project, tagged it $100 million production budget, and gave it a release date of August 9th, 2019 — the 50th anniversary of the Tate murders. Now, the first two cast members have been announced, as well as a title for the film: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

As heavily rumored, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt will both have prominent roles in the film. The film isn’t so much a Manson biopic, but rather the fictional story of a former western TV star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt). Rick’s next door neighbor is Sharon Tate and her very real murder at the hands of the Manson Family cult serves as a backdrop to the main story.

Tarantino is said to be courting Margot Robbie to play the role of Tate. Tom Cruise is also in consideration for a role.

In a statement, Tarantino said, “I’ve been working on this script for five years, as well as living in Los Angeles County most of my life, including in 1969, when I was seven years old. I’m very excited to tell this story of an LA and a Hollywood that don’t exist anymore. And I couldn’t be happier about the dynamic teaming of DiCaprio & Pitt as Rick & Cliff.”

DiCaprio and Tarantino previously teamed up for 2012’s Django Unchained, and Pitt worked with the veteran director on 2009’s Inglorious Basterds.