Perhaps because we’re not far off the 50 year anniversary, or perhaps the death of Charles Manson has put the gruesome Tate-LaBianca murders back in the front of people’s minds. Whatever the reason, we’re suddenly facing three different movie takes on the Manson Family killings. From Quentin Tarantino to Matt Smith to Hilary Duff to Margot Robbie, here’s the rundown on the upcoming projects.
- Helter Skelter (working title) TBA 2019
Directed by Tarantino, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, with rumors of Margot Robbie in talks to play Sharon Tate. Other actors rumored are Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lawrence. Sony Pictures will distribute the film, and while specifics of the script (written by Tarantino) are unclear, it’s reportedly “a 1969-set ensemble piece that in some way involves Charles Manson and the murder of Sharon Tate”.
2. Charlie Says (formerly The Family) TBA 2018
Directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol, The Moth Diaries), starring Matt Smith as Charles Manson, Game of Thrones‘ Hannah Murray, Marianne Rendón, Odessa Young and as Susan Atkins (Rendón), Linda Kasabian and Patricia Krenwinkel, the three young women sent by Charles Manson and who took part in or were present during the Tate-LaBianca murders. Also starring Suki Waterhouse, Merritt Wever, Kayli Carter, and Cara Gugino. Script by Guinevere Turner (The Notorious Bettie Page, American Psycho), based on Karlene Faith’s The Long Prison Journey of Leslie Van Houten and Ed Sanders’ The Family.
3. The Haunting of Sharon Tate TBA
Directed and written by Daniel Farrands (The Haunting in Connecticut, The Amityville Murders), starring Hilary Duff as Sharon Tate, this telling focuses on the days leading up to Tate’s murder, and claims she had a prophetic dream about her own death. Also starring Lydia Hearst (South of Hell, Swing State) and Jonathan Bennett (Veronica Mars, Awkward).
Which, if any of these, will you see?
