Only One Actor Was Allowed to Change Quentin Tarantino’s Script

Samuel L. Jackson has revealed that he’s one of the lucky few actors who can make changes to Quentin Tarantino’s scripts during production. The pair first worked together on Pulp Fiction in 1994— although Jackson originally auditioned for a role in Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino is known for being somewhat precious about the dialogue and scenes written in his scripts, and only lets his most trusted colleagues make alterations. But Samuel L. Jackson has been giving notes and altering scenes since their very first collaboration.

Speaking to GQ, Samuel L. Jackson reflected on his time playing Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. After recounting his failed audition for Reservoir Dogs, the actor divulged the casting process for Pulp Fiction, saying that Tarantino approached him directly about the film, remembering his past failed audition. While Tarantino was still in the infancy of his directorial career, Jackson surprised fans by revealing that he was allowed to make several changes to Pulp Fiction‘s original script.

“If I want to change something, I’ll write it, show it to him, and he’ll either okay it or say no,” Jackson said, nonchalantly. While Tarantino doesn’t have the reputation of directors like the Coen Brothers, who reportedly adhere to almost every syllable in the final script, the beloved director is known for being steadfast in pursuing his independent vision for a movie. However, that doesn’t mean actors can’t make suggestions, as long as they’re good ones. Jackson continued:

“I’ve been allowed to change things. But, I don’t do it in front of other people.”

Samuel L. Jackson Reveals His Biggest Change to Pulp Fiction

Tarantino’s sophomore film is an endless cavalcade of memorable scenes, from Jules and Vincent (John Travolta) discussing foot massages while on their way to a job, to the iconic dance competition, and Butch’s (Bruce Willis) unfortunate run-in with Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). However, one of Jules’ most understated scenes comes halfway through the movie, when he’s caught in the middle of a diner hold-up by Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer).

In the film, Jules lets the criminal pair go, saying he’s in a “transitional phase.” However, Samuel L. Jackson revealed that the original script featured a very different outcome. He explained:

“In the original script, in the diner, when Tim [Roth] first comes over, and he asks about the briefcase, he opens it up, and when he opens it I shoot Honey Bunny off the bar and then I shoot his ass and kill him. They do a cut and that’s what I would have done before I got that vision in the house of don’t kill anybody, he’s still standing there. So that’s not there.!”

Across his filmography, Samuel L. Jackson is best known for his incredibly memorable lines. During the conversation, the actor said that he doesn’t know why his lines have become so memorable, but he’s glad that his performances have stayed with audiences for many years. Jackson said:

“A lot of things I say in movies, people still say to me. So, I don’t know if it’s me, I don’t know if it’s the writing.”