Why Matt Dillon Turned Down Pulp Fiction’s Iconic Butch Role – Tarantino Reveals the Shocking Reason

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In his groundbreaking film “Pulp Fiction,” Quentin Tarantino made some intriguing actor selections, yet not all he desired to recruit agreed to join the movie that catapulted him into fame. John Travolta found a successful return to Hollywood in “Pulp Fiction,” portraying Vincent Vega, a mafia assassin who teams up with Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules Winnfield. The cast was extensive, and one of the most prominent actors to accept the role was Bruce Willis, who played Butch, the boxer who deceived mafia boss Marsellus Wallace.

Initially, Tarantino didn’t opt for Willis as his ideal pick, and he actually declined Willis when he proposed himself for another character. Contrarily, the studio and Tarantino had Matt Dillon in mind for Butch initially. It might seem unusual given that Willis was more prominent in Hollywood at the time, but Tarantino paid no heed to fame. Instead, Tarantino wanted Matt Dillon and extended the offer, but Dillon declined, missing an opportunity to feature in one of the ’90s cinematic milestones.

The Real Reason Matt Dillon Passed On Pulp Fiction Role

Matt Dillon Didn’t Understand The Character

In the “2 Bears, 1 Cave” podcast with Tom Segura, Quentin Tarantino explained that they hadn’t aimed to cast Bruce Willis for the film “Pulp Fiction,” as he was already a highly sought-after movie star. Instead, the role of Butch was initially written for Matt Dillon, who was an admirer of Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs” script. Additionally, Tarantino mentioned that he had to accommodate his contract with Miramax during the casting process.

In our production, we required at least one or two actors who were previously approved by Miramax to be part of our versatile cast. Once these key players were secured, you were free to fill the remaining roles with whoever you chose, as long as each actor had a well-known counterpart they could leverage for publicity. Matt Dillon was someone who fit that desired category.

For Tarantino, it wasn’t an issue that Dillon was a fan since he knew him well. Dillon had gained some fame with his role in “Singles” two years prior and had starred in several crime dramas during the 80s. However, difficulties arose when Tarantino offered the role to Dillon. As depicted in the movie, Butch is a boxer who agrees to fix a fight for Marsellus Wallace but instead bets on himself, wins, and flees from the hitmen. However, the boxing match itself was not portrayed in the film, which left Dillon puzzled as to why.

As a cinephile, I found myself wrestling with my feelings when I perused the script. It had its appeal, yet something was missing – there were no scenes depicting Butch actually boxing. To me, it wasn’t just about watching the underdog rise; I yearned for the spectacle of the fight itself. If you can imagine, I was left craving to witness that pivotal moment.

To be honest, I wasn’t completely convinced by the script as is. And truthfully, the prospect of embodying the Butch character didn’t resonate with me. Instead, I found myself drawn to the Vincent role. So, instead of a flat-out refusal, I chose to remain noncommittal about the part. In essence, I didn’t reject it, but I also didn’t embrace it wholeheartedly, as my heart was set on portraying the complexities of Vincent.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but reflect on how different my world would be if Matt Dillon hadn’t given his nod of approval for Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Pulp Fiction. Without Dillon’s endorsement, there was a real possibility that Tarantino might not have been able to bring this iconic film to life. Thankfully, Harvey Keitel stepped up and played the hero, ensuring that the movie saw the light of day.

Bruce Willis Proved He Was Always Meant To Be Butch

Bruce Willis Fought For A Role In Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino mentioned that Harvey Keitel was already committed for the movie, and during the casting process for other roles, he was busy shooting another film. One day, Keitel invited Tarantino over to his temporary residence to hang out. Interestingly, Bruce Willis lived just a stone’s throw away and also attended the gathering at Keitel’s house. At this point, Tarantino hadn’t met Willis yet, but he discovered that the actor was an ardent fan of “Reservoir Dogs.” It also came to light that Keitel had informed Willis about “Pulp Fiction,” and Willis had shown up to try his luck for a role in the movie.

Initially, Willis expressed his desire to portray Vincent, but Tarantino had already planned for John Travolta in that role. Although Willis thought Travolta was perfect for the part, he showed interest in another character instead. Inquiring about Jules didn’t pan out either. Tarantino acknowledged Willis’ potential to secure funding for the film, but felt it wouldn’t be appropriate to recast Jules as a white actor. It was then that Tarantino proposed the idea of Willis playing Butch instead.

I believe you could excel in this film because you have a deep understanding of the script, share my humor, and I think your acting style would suit the third lead role perfectly. In fact, I envision that character as a classic ’50s leading man.

He requested that Bruce Willis re-read the script once more, considering him for the role of Butch. Willis consented and spoke this line: “The shortest sentence in the Bible is ‘Jesus wept.’ The shortest sentence in Hollywood is ‘I’m in.’ And, I’m in.” Tarantino stated that Willis agreeing to participate paved the way for Pulp Fiction, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Butch in the film.

Source: YouTube

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2025-06-01 03:39