DiCaprio reveals the groundbreaking casting moment that convinced Scorsese to break his own rules for Killers Of The Flower Moon
Marty's intuition led him to choose Lily Gladstone as the perfect fit for Killers of the Flower Moon Her role is crucial in the film's narrative, making her casting decision a game-changer for Scorsese
Summary
Lily Gladstone's casting in Killers of the Flower Moon breaks Martin Scorsese's usual habits; he didn't make her audition since he instinctively knew she was the one.
Gladstone's involvement in the Scorsese movie is a significant career advancement, solidifying her breakthrough role and pushing forward the portrayal of Native American women in the film industry. With Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese aims to overturn Hollywood's problematic track record of representing indigenous communities, and casting Gladstone serves as a promising indication that he has made the ideal choice to drive this change.
Lily Gladstone's involvement in Killers of the Flower Moon was a departure from Martin Scorsese's usual casting habits. In the film, she plays Mollie Burkhart, a Native American woman from the Osage tribe who is married to Ernest Burkhart, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. Gladstone joins an impressive ensemble cast that includes Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, and John Lithgow.
During an interview with British Vogue, DiCaprio shared how Scorsese deviated from his usual casting process for Killers of the Flower Moon. Unlike his typical approach of having actors audition or read for their roles, Scorsese had an instinctual feeling about Gladstone's suitability for the part after a Zoom call. DiCaprio expressed this break in routine in the following quote:
Why Lily Gladstone’s Role Is Vital For Killers of the Flower Moon
Lily's performance in this film is truly remarkable. She carries the entire narrative with a captivating presence. There was no need for auditions or readings; Marty instinctively knew Lily was the perfect fit. He saw a genuine sincerity in her eyes, even through a computer screen. I have never witnessed Scorsese meet someone and immediately feel such a strong connection and urge to proceed without any delay.
Distinguished from her co-stars in Killers of the Flower Moon, Gladstone is set to make her debut collaboration with Scorsese. Prior to securing a role in this forthcoming crime drama, Gladstone showcased her talent in various independent films (Certain Women, First Cow) and television shows (Billions, Reservation Dogs). Joining forces with Scorsese is a significant milestone in Gladstone's career, representing her most significant breakthrough role to date.
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Gladstone's involvement in Killers of the Flower Moon marks a significant step towards better representation of Native American women in film. Along with casting remarks, DiCaprio recently spoke up about the evolution of the film's script and its portrayal of indigenous people. He explained that the script moved away from prioritizing the perspective of White men to focusing on Mollie Burkhart as the central figure of the story. Thus, Gladstone's role is not only her first collaboration with Scorsese, but it also plays a crucial part in both the film's narrative and the representation of Native Americans. Gladstone herself has expressed concerns about Hollywood's problematic history in depicting indigenous people on screen, and Killers of the Flower Moon aims to change that narrative. If Gladstone's casting is any indication, Scorsese has made the right choice in ensuring a shift in this paradigm.
Source: British Vogue
