Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio Recall Being Starstruck by Luke Perry: "We Were Like Kids"

Brad Pitt [1], Leonardo DiCaprio [2], and director Quentin Tarantino [3] are the cover stars of this year's Esquire Summer issue [4]. Aside from Brad and Leo looking devilishly sexy in the photo spread (see: Leo in that pool table shot and Brad in that convertible), the A-list actors are talking all about their upcoming film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood [5], and what it was like working together. The film — which features a star-studded cast [6], including Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning [7], and the late Luke Perry [8] — follows a TV star and his stunt double as they navigate Hollywood during the time of the Charles Manson murders [9] in 1969. Burt Reynolds was also originally cast for the film, but he sadly passed away [10] in September 2018. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood hits theaters on July 26.

On what attracted Leo to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: "Well, first off, the chance to work with Mr. Tarantino. And certainly this time period was fascinating. It was this homage to Hollywood. I don't think there's been a Hollywood film like this — and by that I mean a film set in Hollywood and about Hollywood — which gets its nails dirty, getting into the everyday life of an actor and his stunt double. 1969 is a seminal time in cinema history, as well as in the world. Rick and Cliff [Leo and Brad's characters, respectively], they're part of the old guard in Hollywood, but they're also trying to navigate this new world of the hippie revolution and free love. I loved the idea of taking on this struggling actor who is trying to find his footing in this new world. And his pal who he's been with through all these wars in Hollywood."
On how Leo still appreciates the struggle of finding your way in the industry: "My attitude is the same as when I started. When I talk to these two guys [Brad and Quentin], it's like, we know we were given that one shot and we do not want to disrespect that opportunity, which is why we're just trying the damn best we can to make the best things we can. Because we understand that it is fleeting. Tastes change; culture changes. And I feel very blessed to have gotten that ticket to be able to do movies. So I feel very connected to that 15-year-old kid who got his first movie, and that hasn't changed."

On what attracted Leo to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: "Well, first off, the chance to work with Mr. Tarantino. And certainly this time period was fascinating. It was this homage to Hollywood. I don't think there's been a Hollywood film like this — and by that I mean a film set in Hollywood and about Hollywood — which gets its nails dirty, getting into the everyday life of an actor and his stunt double. 1969 is a seminal time in cinema history, as well as in the world. Rick and Cliff [Leo and Brad's characters, respectively], they're part of the old guard in Hollywood, but they're also trying to navigate this new world of the hippie revolution and free love. I loved the idea of taking on this struggling actor who is trying to find his footing in this new world. And his pal who he's been with through all these wars in Hollywood."
On how Leo still appreciates the struggle of finding your way in the industry: "My attitude is the same as when I started. When I talk to these two guys [Brad and Quentin], it's like, we know we were given that one shot and we do not want to disrespect that opportunity, which is why we're just trying the damn best we can to make the best things we can. Because we understand that it is fleeting. Tastes change; culture changes. And I feel very blessed to have gotten that ticket to be able to do movies. So I feel very connected to that 15-year-old kid who got his first movie, and that hasn't changed."

On what attracted Brad to the film: "Certainly the period is great fun. Quentin is the last purveyor of cool. If you land in one of his films, you know you're in great hands. Quentin gives you these speeches, the kind that you wished you had said on the drive home that you think of a day later. I felt the script was an evolution of Quentin's voice. I mean, we know Quentin as an auteur sending film in a singular, original direction, but I found this an evolution — and an amalgamation of what we loved about his other eight films. . . . And doing this with Leo was really cool and a rare opportunity. Then there was just the whole thing, where we all grew up with the lore of the lead actor and his stuntman — that relationship and craft. I mean, there are epic stories of these duos: Burt Reynolds had Hal Needham. Steve McQueen had Bud Ekins. Kurt Russell had his guy. Harrison Ford had his. These guys were partners for decades and it's something that is not the same in our generation, as the pieces became more movable."
On Brad's favorite part of filming the movie: "I'll tell you one of the greatest moments I've had in these however many years we've been at it in this town: getting to spend two days with Burt Reynolds on this film. . . . It was a f*cking pleasure."

On what attracted Brad to the film: "Certainly the period is great fun. Quentin is the last purveyor of cool. If you land in one of his films, you know you're in great hands. Quentin gives you these speeches, the kind that you wished you had said on the drive home that you think of a day later. I felt the script was an evolution of Quentin's voice. I mean, we know Quentin as an auteur sending film in a singular, original direction, but I found this an evolution — and an amalgamation of what we loved about his other eight films. . . . And doing this with Leo was really cool and a rare opportunity. Then there was just the whole thing, where we all grew up with the lore of the lead actor and his stuntman — that relationship and craft. I mean, there are epic stories of these duos: Burt Reynolds had Hal Needham. Steve McQueen had Bud Ekins. Kurt Russell had his guy. Harrison Ford [12] had his. These guys were partners for decades and it's something that is not the same in our generation, as the pieces became more movable."
On Brad's favorite part of filming the movie: "I'll tell you one of the greatest moments I've had in these however many years we've been at it in this town: getting to spend two days with Burt Reynolds on this film. . . . It was a f*cking pleasure."

On what working with Brad was like for Leo: "When we were doing the movie, my relationship with Brad clicked. It was very early on where he improvised a line and it changed everything. In the scene, as it was written, I'm coming to set hungover and I am basically getting my fate handed to me, discovering what my future is going to be in this industry and I'm really down. In the scene, Brad ad-libs; he just comes out with this line, he looks at me and says, 'Hey, you're Rick f*cking Dalton. Don't you forget that.'"
On where Brad came up with that ad-lib: "True story, this was probably early '90s. I was on set and I was whining about something and lamenting something. I was pretty low. And this guy said to me, 'Get your head up, hold your head up. Quit your whining. You're Brad f*cking Pitt. I would like to be Brad f*cking Pitt.' It did me a favor. I needed to hear it. That day, I flashed on that. The way Quentin's scene was constructed, it reminded me of it."

On what working with Brad was like for Leo: "When we were doing the movie, my relationship with Brad clicked. It was very early on where he improvised a line and it changed everything. In the scene, as it was written, I'm coming to set hungover and I am basically getting my fate handed to me, discovering what my future is going to be in this industry and I'm really down. In the scene, Brad ad-libs; he just comes out with this line, he looks at me and says, 'Hey, you're Rick f*cking Dalton. Don't you forget that.'"
On where Brad came up with that ad-lib: "True story, this was probably early '90s. I was on set and I was whining about something and lamenting something. I was pretty low. And this guy said to me, 'Get your head up, hold your head up. Quit your whining. You're Brad f*cking Pitt. I would like to be Brad f*cking Pitt.' It did me a favor. I needed to hear it. That day, I flashed on that. The way Quentin's scene was constructed, it reminded me of it."

On what working with the late Luke Perry was like for Leo: "I remember my friend Vinny, who is in the film as well, we walked in and we both had this butterfly moment of like, 'Oh my God, that's Luke Perry over there!'"

On what working with Luke was like for Brad: "'That's Luke f*cking Perry!' We were like kids in the candy shop because I remember going to the studios and [Beverly Hills, 90210] was going on and he was that icon of coolness for us as teenagers. It was this strange burst of excitement that I had, to be able to act with him. Man, he was so incredibly humble and amazing and absolutely committed. He couldn't have been a more friendly, wonderful guy to spend time with. I got to sit down and have some wonderful conversations with him. It was really special."

On what working with the late Luke Perry was like for Leo: "I remember my friend Vinny, who is in the film as well, we walked in and we both had this butterfly moment of like, 'Oh my God, that's Luke Perry over there!'"
On what working with Luke was like for Brad: "'That's Luke f*cking Perry!' We were like kids in the candy shop because I remember going to the studios and [Beverly Hills, 90210] was going on and he was that icon of coolness for us as teenagers. It was this strange burst of excitement that I had, to be able to act with him. Man, he was so incredibly humble and amazing and absolutely committed. He couldn't have been a more friendly, wonderful guy to spend time with. I got to sit down and have some wonderful conversations with him. It was really special."

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Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio Recall Being Starstruck by Luke Perry: "We Were Like Kids"