For the first time ever, Academy Award–winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, has authorized and granted unprecedented access to journalist and author Jay Glennie to write the making of three of his classic films beginning with The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. The comprehensive coffee table book will be released on November 11 by Insight Editions. The Story Factory’s Shane Salerno concluded the three-book deal with Insight and the next two books in the Quentin Tarantino Library will explore Inglorious Basterds (already completed) and Django Unchanged (being written now), and will release in 2026 and 2027. Tarantino will write the introductions for each book. Glennie is set to write large scale, deep-dive books for all ten of Tarantino’s films, the nine he has made and the one that is forthcoming which Tarantino has announced as his last.
“I have Jay Glennie’s books in my collection, and I have read and loved them, in particular on the making of The Deer Hunter. I just know that there is no better guy to take a deep dive into my movies. I couldn’t be more thrilled with such a beautiful, fun, funny, and (at least to me) moving examination of my favorite movie,” Tarantino said.
“Quentin Tarantino is a master storyteller whose impact on cinema is extraordinary,” says Insight Editions CEO, Raoul Goff and Publisher Vanessa Lopez. “This is not just a book for movie lovers; it’s an exploration of what makes Tarantino one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. Publishing this series of books is both a celebration of Tarantino’s career, as well as a deep dive into the artistry behind his films, We’re thrilled to work with Jay to bring these projects to life, offering readers a unique and intimate perspective on each of these iconic films.”
“When Quentin asked me if ‘I wanted to give his flicks the Jay Glennie Treatment’ I jumped at the opportunity. Quentin’s films have been the touchstone of my film education. Pulp Fiction was the first film Kelly, my now wife, and I saw together, his films mean everything to me. So to be invited to take deep dives into each of them, with Quentin and his casts and crews is an honor. I simply cannot wait for Quentin’s millions of fans across the world to read our first release Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” Glennie told Deadline exclusively.
The first of three new books covering Tarantino’s oeuvre, The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood includes exclusive interviews with key cast and crew members, including Oscar winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, Oscar nominee Margot Robbie, and the brilliant supporting cast, including Oscar-winner Mikey Madison, Margaret Qualley, Oscar-nominee Austin Butler, Lena Dunham, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Maya Hawke, Sydney Sweeney, producer David Heyman and Sony’s Tom Rothman and Sanford Panitch, among a hundred others.
Leonardo DiCaprio shares in his exclusive interview how he connected directly to the role of down-n-out actor Rick Dalton.
“I have twenty-five friends that I’ve known for thirty years and half of them are actors you know and great actors. So I had this unbelievable connection with Rick because I know that story so well,” explained Leo. “They are amazing actors that have so much to give and so much to offer creatively and you know some of them have been in the right place at the right time and some of them haven’t. It does have a lot to do with luck and being prepared at the right time. So, I know these guys you know I’ve grown up with them. They have so much talent and almost came close to this one particular role that would’ve gotten them to that other level. DiCaprio remembered a particular audition he did for Baywatch as a young actor. “Had the producer’s on Baywatch chosen me, well I would’ve been on that show for ten years and I would’ve never gotten other opportunities.”
* * * * *
When Brad Pitt was preparing to play Cliff Booth, a role he loved, he called Tarantino unexpectedly one day.
Brad called again, “Q could I come over to the house, you know shoot the shit and chat over a few things?”
“No problem, get your ass over dude!”
Fixing some drinks, they settled down and before Quentin can play the movie he had racked up, Brad had an idea he wanted to run by his director.
“Okay, I had guy and I think he is a kinda jumping off point as to who Cliff could be.”
“Okay, who do you have, Brad?”
Pitt pulled out a DVD of Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack.
“Brad, I have a 35 mm print of Billy Jack threaded up in the projector ready to show you tonight,” replied a stunned Quentin.
He and Pitt were completely wired into the same mains. They were on the same page. They settled down to watch Billy Jack.
“I had absolutely no idea, Quentin was thinking of Billy Jack and there I am standing with it in my hand on DVD,” recalled a shocked Brad.
* * * * *
In addition to Tarantino’s special introductions, the coffee table book which will feature hundreds of behind-the-scenes photographs, production memos and letters, concept art, costume and production design sketches, and film ephemera. The result is an account of the monumental effort undertaken to produce Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and is the official record of how it was achieved, from creation and writing to the world premiere and ten Academy Award nominations and two Oscar wins.
In the book Margot Robbie shares a fascinating story about how she immersed herself into playing Sharon Tate when she asked Debra Tate about Sharon’s perfume.
“Debra, I know that this is a kinda random question, but did Sharon have a particular perfume she liked to wear?”
Margot Robbie was finding it fascinating spending time with Sharon Tate’s sister, Debra. All manner of vital insights were feeding into her gaining a better understating of the actress she was set to portray on screen for Quentin.
“Every character I play I pick a perfume,” explained Margot, “it just helps me associate a smell with my character, and then I never wear the perfume again. So, I was intrigued to find out Sharon’s favored perfume.”
Margot was just about to be knocked for six by Debra Tate’s answer to her questioning.
“Yes, yes she did. I was going to give it to you. Sharon wanted me to give it to you.”
Leaving a bemused Margot in the room, Debra left and returned with a beautiful little glass bottle still containing perfume. The seal had been waxed shut since Sharon’s passing, the scent preserved since the 60s. Debra passed Margot the small bottle.
“Sharon, told me to give it to you,” she reiterated.
* * * * *
The pitch-perfect recreations of famous TV shows and films were a cornerstone of Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood, but obtaining those rights weren’t easy.
Quentin’s longtime agent and the lawyer, Mike Simpson and Carlos Goodman, were dispatched on an urgent mission. Their mission was to obtain the underlying rights to the television show, Lancer. For Quentin to make use of the character names in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood he would need permission from the series author. At her husband’s passing, Samuel A Peeples’ widow was bequeathed the rights.
Investigations unearthed that the widow was living in a trailer in Santa Rosa. They quickly made the trip and their charms were such that she kindly granted them permission. Leaving without an additional gift for the widow did not sit well and they asked her attendant what did he feel would be a gift that she would treasure as a way for Quentin to show his appreciation. A walk in bathtub, a walk in bathtub would transform her life they were told. No problem at all. Quentin paid for a deluxe model and had it installed in her trailer. Sadly the widow did not live to see the release of Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood but Mike Simpson did receive some welcome news. “We heard she loved her bathtub,” said Simpson.
* * * * *
The film helped launch the careers of Mikey Madison and Sydney Sweeney, who share their experiences in the book.
Mikey Madison: “I’m just so grateful for Quentin, and also Vickie Thomas for their belief in me. It changed everything for me. I had the good sense to realize that I was going to be part of an iconic film, everybody did. We were working with a director, just full of creativity. It was truly a unique and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’ll be able to show my children one day that I got to work with Quentin Tarantino. Now that’s really something.”
Sydney Sweeney: “Working with Quentin was absolutely incredible. He has this amazing way of bringing his sets to life—not just creating a scene but building an entire world you get to inhabit … It’s an experience like no other, stepping into Quentin’s world.”
* * * * *
With more than 400 pages and hundreds of photographs (many never seen before) detailing every aspect of the film, from the writing of the script, casting, rehearsals, through to production and costume design—and a trove of never-before-seen material—this is the definitive exploration of the making of this one-of-a-kind film and the start of a groundbreaking series of books chronicling Tarantino’s award-winning career to date.
The book project was represented by The Story Factory.
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