Quentin Tarantino may have announced he’s only a few years away from self-imposed retirement, but he still has a few films he wants to make first. They reportedly include a 30s gangster film, a driving movie and a horror flick. Some of the details on that horror film have just come out and it looks like he’s planning a movie based on the Manson murders. Not a bad choice considering how popular anything true crime is lately.
The project is still in the very early days of development and without a finalized script, but reports say that at least part of the story will focus on the murder of Sharon Tate (who was also eight months pregnant and the wife of director Roman Polanski). Tate was murdered along with her friends Jay Sebring, and couple Wojciech Frykowski and Abigail Folger (heiress to the Folger coffee fortune).
The murder, which was carried out by four members of Charles Manson’s so-called family is one of the most high profile murder cases in history because of its brutality and the fact that Manson never actually did any of the killing—and yet was sentenced to life in prison. Instead he convinced his followers, Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian to do it for him.
As for casting, no official roles have been cast yet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t rumours. Tarantino has reportedly met with Jennifer Lawrence and Margot Robbie regarding potential roles, with Robbie the front-runner for the part of Sharon Tate. He’s also considering Samuel L. Jackson and Brad Pitt, two actors he’s worked with on multiple other films.
It will be a few years before the film is actually released, but if there’s plenty more Manson material to keep you occupied until then. Prepare for the Manson Family, Tarantino-style by reading Vincent Bugliosi’s Helter Skelter and watching NBC’s Aquarius, which is loosely based on the Manson family.
