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Quentin Tarantino claimed on Wednesday’s “Howard Stern Show” that Disney is “going out of their way” to hurt him by trying to “extort” a major movie theater into showing Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens instead of his new movie, The Hateful Eight. Listen to the audio below!
During an interview on the radio show, Tarantino made the allegation, calling the move “real bad news that really f—ing pissed me off.” The director explained that The Hateful Eight was scheduled to play at the iconic Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles starting on Christmas Day, but Disney executives supposedly decided they wanted to extend their stay and “play [Star Wars] throughout the entire holiday season.”
Tarantino went on to claim that Disney strong-armed that one Los Angeles theater into scrapping plans to show his movie, and if the company refused, Disney would prevent the theater chain from showing Star Wars in any of its theaters around the country. “They have the biggest movie in the world,” Tarantino said. “We’re talking about one theater.” He added, “They are going out of their way to f— me.”
An irate Tarantino added, “It’s vindictive, it’s mean, and it’s extortion.” He also reminded Stern that Miramax, the film studio for which he made huge hits like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, was once owned by Disney. “I made a lot of money for the Disney corporation,” Tarantino said. “They don’t need to be this vindictive… They literally threatened the [theater].”
But Stern began to put Tarantino’s mind at ease when he assured the filmmaker he could rectify the situation. The radio host said that not only was he friends with Star Wars director J.J. Abrams, but Disney CEO Bob Iger was a big fan of his show. “They’ll straighten out your situation,” Stern told Tarantino. “It will be done.”
Stern then sent out a personal message to Iger over the air. “Listen Bob… I don’t give a s–t about this theater,” Stern began. “Quentin’s a weirdo. Sorry Quentin… He just wants to show his goddamn movie there. You’re sitting on top of the world. You’ve got Star Wars. What, do you need this?”
Stern further assured an emotional Tarantino he’d “take care of it,” and pointed out, “You’re moved to tears over this!” Tarantino agreed, noting, “That’s very touching, man. I appreciate it. I’ve never seen you do anything quite so sweet!”
Listen to Tarantino’s Star Wars saga below, and tell Gossip Cop what you think about the director’s story.
