Quentin Tarantino has continued rounding out the cast on his ensemble true crime story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with the hiring of professional martial artist Mike Moh as Bruce Lee, according to The Wrap.
Moh, who is best known for his work in the live-action web series adaptations of the Street Fighter franchise and as Triton in the short-lived Marvel’s Inhumans, is a huge fan of the Enter the Dragon star and has made multiple tribute videos to him over the years. Given Tarantino’s love for the actor, which can be seen in some of his films including the tracksuit worn by Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill series, Moh’s casting seems perfect for the part.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: First Look at Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate
Tarantino had announced in the past that Lee would appear in the film, and though Moh signed on a month ago for the cast, his role had been kept secret for the most part until insiders told the outlet that he would be playing the martial arts legend.
The massive ensemble cast for the film also includes Burt Reynolds (Smokey and the Bandit), Timothy Olyphant (Santa Clarita Diet), Michael Madsen (Sin City), Tim Roth (Selma), Damian Lewis (Billions), Luke Perry (The Fifth Element), Emile Hirsch (Speed Racer), Dakota Fanning (The Alienist), Clifton Collins (Pacific Rim), Keith Jefferson (The Hateful Eight), Nicholas Hammond (The Sound of Music), James Marsden (Westworld), Julia Butters (Transparent), and Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire).
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Set Photos with Pitt, DiCaprio and Pacino
Set in Los Angeles in the summer of 1969, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood focuses on a male TV actor named Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) who’s had one hit western series and is looking for a way to get into the film business. His sidekick Cliff Booth (Pitt) — who’s also his stunt double — is looking for the same thing. The horrific murder of Sharon Tate (Rick’s neighbor in the film, portrayed by Robbie) and four of her friends by Charles Manson’s cult of followers serves as a backdrop to the main story. The movie is said to be similar to a “Pulp Fiction-like tapestry” that covers a group of characters during that summer.
This will be Tarantino’s first film based on true events, as Inglorious Basterds was technically set in World War II and featured key leaders including Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill, but in an alternate history that did not follow reality.
Production for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is currently underway in Los Angeles for Sony Pictures and the film is slated for release on August 9, 2019.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
