Quentin Tarantino’s script dispute over Natural Born Killers film adaptation. [Image Source: STYLIST]
A film written by Quentin Tarantino but rejected by the acclaimed director himself is set to leave the Prime Video library soon. This development highlights an unusual chapter in Tarantino’s career, which fans know not only for his directing but also for his screenwriting works during the early 1990s. The “Quentin Tarantino script dispute” continues to intrigue film lovers as his final tenth feature remains forthcoming.
From Screenwriter to Icon: Tarantino’s Early Career Choices
Before rising to fame as a director, Quentin Tarantino earned recognition as a screenwriter, completing scripts such as True Romance, Natural Born Killers, and Reservoir Dogs in the early 1990s. While he kept Reservoir Dogs to direct himself, he sold the other two scripts to established directors. Tony Scott directed True Romance, a film Tarantino praised for its faithful adaptation. In contrast, the handling of Natural Born Killers by Oliver Stone sparked significant tension, marking a pivotal conflict in Tarantino’s career.
The Rift Over ‘Natural Born Killers’ and Tarantino’s Reaction
Oliver Stone acquired the rights to adapt Tarantino’s Natural Born Killers script but chose to rewrite it entirely without consulting the original writer. This decision caused strong resentment from Tarantino, leading him to distance himself from the final product. Recounting the experience on the Howard Stern podcast in 2009, Tarantino said,
Image of: Quentin Tarantino
“[Oliver Stone] rewrote the script, and you don’t do that to me. I knew it, and I didn’t go to the screening thinking, ‘I’m not going to watch this damn thing,’ but I was hanging out with Juliette Lewis and we finally decided to go. We entered the cinema, paid for our tickets, and (…) after 20 minutes I was so upset that we left,”
citing his personal disappointment.
Oliver Stone’s Perspective and the Film’s Cult Status
Oliver Stone defended his approach, emphasizing the financial settlement he provided to Tarantino and expressing regret about the fallout:
“I don’t know if he ever saw it. He’s said a lot, and I don’t think that was the right thing to do.”
Natural Born Killers emerged as a psychedelic road movie that satirizes the media, featuring a standout cast including Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr. portraying a ratings-obsessed TV show host, and Tommy Lee Jones as an eccentric prison warden.
Although initially underperforming at the box office, the film gradually attained cult classic status, gaining appreciation from cinephiles despite Tarantino’s enduring dissatisfaction.
The Impact of the Dispute and Future Implications
This creative conflict altered the relationship between two noted filmmakers, with the rift between Tarantino and Stone remaining permanent. For Tarantino fans, this controversy underscores the complexities behind celebrated Hollywood productions. As Natural Born Killers prepares to be removed from Prime Video on February 6th, viewers looking to explore Tarantino’s contributions to cinema must reflect on both his directorial works and the scripts he penned but distanced himself from.
With Tarantino planning his final directing venture, this episode serves as a reminder of his multifaceted influence on the film industry and the unresolved tensions that shaped parts of his early career.
