Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Tarantino Says He Fired and Rehired Mélanie Laurent for Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino says he fired Mélanie Laurent after her table read for Inglourious Basterds, before filming began.
Laurent called him a few days later, saying she had been unwell and wanted another chance to read for the role of Shosanna.
Tarantino agreed to start again, asking her to rehearse with him for three days before he restored her role.
He also says he fired Isabelle Huppert, who did not attend the table read amid contract delays, and cast Maggie Cheung instead.
Cheung’s scenes were later cut because Tarantino felt they explained too much about how Shosanna came to own a cinema in Nazi-occupied Paris.
These casting decisions are part of a new book about the making of the 2009 film, which premiered at Cannes.
Quentin Tarantino said he fired Mélanie Laurent after what he described as a terrible table read for Inglourious Basterds.
Laurent called him days later and offered to return to Germany for another audition.
After three days of rehearsal, Tarantino rehired her to play Shosanna Dreyfus.
Tarantino also said he fired Isabelle Huppert after she missed the table read and contract issues stalled.
Huppert’s role went to Maggie Cheung, but the character’s scenes were cut from the film.
- Who
- Quentin Tarantino said he fired and later rehired Mélanie Laurent. He also fired Isabelle Huppert.
- What
- Laurent was rehired to play Shosanna in Inglourious Basterds after rehearsals. Huppert’s role was recast.
- When
- Before production began on the film, which premiered in May 2009.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Tarantino said Laurent’s table read was poor, but her willingness to return and rehearse impressed him. He said Huppert missed the table read and contract issues had stalled.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tarantino fired Laurent after her table read and fired Huppert after she missed it.
Laurent called Tarantino and offered to return to Germany to read for him again.
Tarantino agreed to restart the process, provided she completed three days of rehearsal.
Tarantino rehired Laurent as Shosanna.
Inglourious Basterds premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
- Film
- Inglourious Basterds
- Laurent’s role
- Shosanna Dreyfus
- Laurent’s audition
- Three days of rehearsal
- Huppert’s replacement
- Maggie Cheung
- Premiere
- Cannes Film Festival, May 2009
What people are saying
Mélanie Laurent’s table read was terrible. It wasn’t good enough to be terrible.
Well, Mélanie was terrible, so I fired her.
The fact of the matter is, if we were not talking about the making of ‘Inglourious Basterds,’ I would never think about the table read again for the simple reason Mélanie is my Shosanna.
As far as I’m concerned, if you’re cast and you are not at that table, I don’t owe you jack shit!