Few directors are as easily recognized as Quentin Tarantino. Less than a minute into any of the iconic director’s works, and you know you’re amid one of his creations. The gritty feel mixed with a comic book aura is quintessentially Tarantino. A throwback to an old-school form of Hollywood storytelling with a hard edge typically shown by outsiders, there’s a very distinct charm to his work. It’s for this reason that top-level actors have long been angling for the Tarantino treatment.

In his illustrious film career, Tarantino has created masterpieces. From Pulp Fiction to Kill Bill, his legendary productions have made their way into Hollywood’s treasure chest of cinema. How different, however, would these movies have been with different actors? How would the careers of some of the most elite players in Tinsel Town (and Tarantino himself) be affected by some of these casting choices? It’s like stepping into an alternate universe. What would have happened if these nine actors almost cast in Quentin Tarantino movies actually had been?

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Charlie Day — Charles Manson, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

     RCG Productions

Day man. Fighter of the Night Man. Leader of the Cult? Best known for his adorably grotesque portrayal of Charlie Kelly on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Charlie Day is one of the least likely stars of a Tarantino flick. Yet, it almost happened. Day was nearly cast as yet another famous Charlie: Charlie Manson in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Seriously? Seriously. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Day had a very reasonable explanation for his refusal of the role and offered it with grace. He explained, “The truth is I couldn’t really see myself as the character, and Damon Herriman was amazing.”

8 Will Smith — Django, Django Unchained

     20th Century Fox

It’s funny to imagine Will Smith, all clad in a suit and sipping down a Big Kahuna soda, asking Bret, “What does Uncle Phil look like?” Sadly, that wasn’t the role he was up for. The former Fresh Prince of Bel Air was actually one of the elite few considered for the role of Django in Django Unchained.

Smith ultimately decided against the part and, in speaking with Red Table Talk on Facebook Watch, he revealed the familial details behind his decision: “I was going to do Django,” Smith recalled. “We had a family meeting, and we all talked about Django. I wasn’t all the way in.”

7 Jack Nicholson — Bill, Kill Bill

     Universal Pictures

Jack Nicholson embodies legend. Simply associating this iconic actor with a film project is enough to generate buzz that lasts for decades. From his early days to today, there are few movies that Nicholson hasn’t elevated simply with his signature smirk.

Kill Bill was almost one of those movies as the award-winning actor was nearly tapped for the titular role. In the end, he wasn’t chosen. The shortlist, however, was full of top stars like David Carradine, Kevin Costner, and Warren Beatty. In a famous story, Beatty told Tarantino that he “didn’t get what the story was about.”

6 Daniel Day-Lewis — Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction

     Focus Features

Imagine Iconic actor and three-time Best Actor Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis trading barbs about French Big Macs while driving to a shakedown with Samuel L. Jackson. The scene feels less like Pulp Fiction and more like pure fiction. Yet, it’s true. The John Travolta role was almost played by one of the preeminent actors of his generation.

In Vanity Fair’s Oral History of Pulp Fiction, the truth came out. According to Tarantino’s agent Mike Sampson, “Daniel Day-Lewis and Bruce Willis, who was the biggest star in Hollywood, had both gotten their hands on the script and wanted to play Vincent Vega.” Simpson, along with Tarantino, lobbied hard for Travolta to get the role, which he ultimately did.

5 Michelle Pfeiffer — Mia Wallace, Pulp Fiction

     Warner Bros.

Not only did Michelle Pfeiffer audition for the role of Marcellas Wallace’s wife Mia in Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino is said to have preferred her for the part. She sat down for an interview with the director and, unlike other actors like Meg Ryan, Pfeiffer was a contender right up until the end. For most fans, though, anyone besides Uma Thurman in the role wouldn’t have felt right.

4 Matt Dillon — Butch Coolidge, Pulp Fiction

     Trust Nordisk

Picture Matt Dillon playing the role of Butch in Pulp Fiction. The struggling boxer, thumbing his nose at the odd-makers who pay him off, seems like a great fit for Dillon. With the rugged charm of a young pugilist, he had the look and attitude for the part.

Maybe, however, he didn’t have the heart for it. Reportedly, Tarantino offered Dillon the role, but then balked after he expressed apprehension once he read the script. Rather than explain his vision and get him on board, the director decided to go with someone else. Who?

3 Mickey Rourke — Butch, Pulp Fiction

     Fox Searchlight Pictures

No, not Mickey Rourke. Tarantino eventually chose Bruce Willis for this famous role, but Rourke was another contender to play Butch in the film. Actually, while Rourke wasn’t the last choice to play Butch, he was the first. Wanting to have a genuine actor in the role, Tarantino offered it to him. Rourke, however, turned it down and explained his reasons, with all humility, to People Magazine: “I allowed myself to get proud and angry because I could do the acting.”

2 Drew Barrymore: Alabama Whitman, True Romance

     New Line Cinema

Alabama Whitman in True Romance is one of Tarantino’s deepest characters. Narrating her own love life and embarking on a journey of self-exploration, Alabama was originally written with Joan Cusak in mind. However, it was Drew Barrymore who seemed to be the chosen one for the 1993 film. According to Patricia Arquette in an interview with Maxim, co-director Tony Scott was very intent on Barrymore. She described him as “obsessed” with The Wedding Singer co-star and said, “He had pictures of her wearing little outfits. But I think she was unavailable.”

1 Kurt Cobain — Lance, Pulp Fiction

     Home Box Office (USA) & Universal Pictures

This one is hard to believe, but it could very well be true. Prior to casting Eric Stolz in the role of Vincent Vega’s frantic drug dealer in Pulp Fiction, Tarantino reportedly wanted and approached Kurt Cobain for the part. The story is hard to imagine, but Courtney Love swears it’s true. According to the widowed Hole singer, Cobain was sent many scripts through the years and eventually was offered this particular part. She also mentioned that she was earmarked for Patricia Arquette’s role as Jody. True? Who knows. Maybe. Maybe not. Although Cobain’s thanking of Tarantino in the liner notes for In Utero makes a bit more sense now.