Quentin Tarantino discusses decisions made before filming “Inglourious Basterds,” saying he fired actress Mélanie Laurent after what he describes as a “terrible” table read. He also describes dropping Isabelle Huppert, with reporting indicating this was tied to preparation and attendance concerns.
Tarantino later rehired Laurent, who returned to play Shosanna Dreyfus and went on to receive critical praise. Reporting across outlets also notes Tarantino’s account that he brought in Maggie Cheung after concerns about Huppert’s contractual situation, as part of how the casting process shifted before production.
Different publications emphasize different parts of Tarantino’s explanation: some foreground the “terrible table read” and Laurent’s comeback, while others highlight the broader behind-the-scenes casting fallout and Tarantino’s blunt commentary in the context of a book about the film’s making.
