Tarantino Fired Melanie Laurent, Isabelle Huppert From 'Basterds'
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Quentin Tarantino initially fired Mélanie Laurent after a poor table read for "Inglourious Basterds," but rehired her after she demonstrated dedication and improved significantly during rehearsals, ultimately securing the lead role of Shosanna Dreyfus.
- Isabelle Huppert was also fired by Tarantino for missing the table read and contract issues, with her role reassigned to Maggie Cheung; however, all scenes involving this character were later cut from the final film.
- Tarantino emphasized the importance of the table read as a critical moment in preproduction, stating that actors must be right for the film's world and that he does not hesitate to fire those who do not meet his standards.
- "Inglourious Basterds" premiered at Cannes in 2009, earning Christoph Waltz the best actor award, and went on to gross $321 million worldwide, with Laurent's role becoming one of her most iconic.
- The director's candid reflections in Jay Glennie’s book reveal his uncompromising approach to casting, prioritizing the film's quality over personal considerations.
