Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are currently co-starring in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, and their performances have already created Oscar buzz. Will the two actors face off in the Best Actor category during awards season?
Both DiCaprio and Pitt have a large amount of screentime in the film which means that they both could easily be considered lead actors. But, as Variety points out, the plot is set in Hollywood in 1969 and revolves around DiCaprio’s character Rick Dalton, who is an aging television star. Pitt plays Cliff Booth, a former stuntman who Dalton hires as his driver and handyman.
Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, & Leonardo DiCaprio arrive in style for the Berlin premiere of #OnceUponATimeInHollywood! https://t.co/sVCv01pG4l
— JustJared.com (@JustJared) August 2, 2019
Because of this dynamic, Sony could end up campaigning for DiCaprio to be in the lead category and Pitt in supporting, instead of having them face off against each other.
“It’s the best work Brad has ever done but it’s all driving Rick’s narrative,” says an Academy member, while another insider adds, “I can actually see Brad volunteering to be in supporting hoping he’d get it because most people think Leo is the lead.”
DiCaprio won the Oscar for lead actor in 2016 with his role in The Revenant. However, Pitt has yet to win an acting Oscar despite being nominated three times. Insiders say that awards aren’t a big deal to Pitt, and his priority is making good films.
The dilemma of putting two or more co-stars against each other in an awards category will be a big question for studios heading into awards season. In addition to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, the upcoming film Ford V Ferrari stars two traditional leading men – Matt Damon and Christian Bale – Netflix’s The Irishman stars Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, and Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe lead the cast of The Lighthouse.
When it comes down to it, this is a good problem to have, says a studio executive. “It’s an embarrassment of riches.”
Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt have developed the ultimate friendship after starring in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.❤️
Source:@people #OnceUponATimeInHollywood #LeonardoDiCaprio pic.twitter.com/W0hcX1DLg2— MrDiCaprio’sFan (@leo94dicaprio) August 2, 2019
Earlier this week, Tarantino’s ninth film had its London premiere, with numerous stars walking the red carpet. While Pitt was posing for pics with the cast, his co-star Lena Dunham took the opportunity to give the eligible bachelor a kiss, causing a seemingly awkward moment.
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Once Upon A Time In Hollywood – which also stars Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning, Kurt Russell, and the late Luke Perry in his final film role – is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
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