The Reason Brad Pitt Was Not Comfortable Fighting Bruce Lee
Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to historical revisionism, but his 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ignited a particularly fierce debate over its portrayal of martial arts legend Bruce Lee.
The controversy centered on a sequence where Brad Pitt’s character, the aging stuntman Cliff Booth, engages in a best-of-three combat session with Lee. Fans of the icon, including his daughter Shannon Lee, were quick to condemn the depiction as an arrogant caricature that didn’t reflect the man they knew.
In the final cut, the two men trade rounds before the fight is abruptly halted by a production coordinator. However, the original script drafted by Tarantino featured a much more definitive outcome where Booth clearly defeated the martial arts master. This narrative choice did not sit well with several members of the production team, including the film’s star.
According to the movie’s co-stunt coordinator, Robert Alonzo, Brad Pitt was among those who had concerns regarding the original direction of the fight. The actor was reportedly uneasy with the idea of his character decisively beating an icon as physically dominant as Lee. After Pitt expressed his concerns during rehearsals, Tarantino agreed to rethink the sequence and look for alternative ways to handle the showdown.
The original version was intended to be much longer and featured an unbroken three-round fight that left no doubt about Booth’s superiority. Following the discussions, the scene was trimmed, leaving the victor technically undecided. While this change was intended to soften the blow for Lee’s admirers, the fallout remained significant due to Lee’s boastful dialogue in the scene.
Shannon Lee characterized her father’s representation as really disheartening—and, I feel, unnecessary, noting that it felt like he was being treated as a punching bag for a white hero. Tarantino defended his creative license, arguing that the scene served to establish the lethal combat skills Booth acquired as a veteran. This tendency to reshape history has become a signature move for the director, as seen in the explosive climaxes of his other period films like Inglourious Basterds.
As of this year, Brad Pitt is keeping his foot on the gas with several high-octane projects. Perhaps his most anticipated project for this year is The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a direct sequel to his Oscar-winning role from the Tarantino universe. Directed by David Fincher the film will reportedly dive deeper into Booth’s past as a Hollywood fixer and war hero. The ensemble cast includes Elizabeth Debicki and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Beyond his acting roles, Pitt remains a powerhouse producer through his company Plan B Entertainment. He is currently overseeing a new A24 project titled The Riders, which will see him team up with Conclave director Edward Berger. While the Bruce Lee controversy remains a talking point in his filmography, his continued collaboration with top-tier directors ensures he remains one of the industry’s most influential figures.
Do you think a director’s “creative license” should have limits when it comes to portraying real-life legends like Bruce Lee? Share your thoughts in the comments.