Burt Reynolds Hadn’t Filmed Scenes for Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the late actor Burt Reynolds died before filming his scenes in the upcoming Tarantino flick Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. The film, which is set during the Manson murders in 1969, had the Hollywood legend playing George Spahn, the man who owned the ranch where Charles Manson and his cult resided. The actor died on Thursday, September 6th, at age 82.

There’s been no word on who will be called on to replace Spahn in the epic crime drama.

The massive ensemble cast for the film also includes Timothy Olyphant (Santa Clarita Diet), Michael Madsen (Sin City), Tim Roth (Selma), Damian Lewis (Billions), Luke Perry (The Fifth Element), Emile Hirsch (Speed Racer), Dakota Fanning (The Alienist), Clifton Collins (Pacific Rim), Keith Jefferson (The Hateful Eight), Nicholas Hammond (The Sound of Music), James Marsden (Westworld), Julia Butters (Transparent), and Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire).

Set in Los Angeles in the summer of 1969, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood focuses on a male TV actor named Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) who’s had one hit western series and is looking for a way to get into the film business. His sidekick Cliff Booth (Pitt) — who’s also his stunt double — is looking for the same thing. The horrific murder of Sharon Tate (Rick’s neighbor in the film, portrayed by Robbie) and four of her friends by Charles Manson’s cult of followers serves as a backdrop to the main story. The movie is said to be similar to a “Pulp Fiction-like tapestry” that covers a group of characters during that summer.

This will be Tarantino’s first film based on true events, as Inglorious Basterds was technically set in World War II and featured key leaders including Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill, but in an alternate history that did not follow reality.

Production for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is currently underway in Los Angeles for Sony Pictures and the film is slated for release on August 9, 2019.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)