The Kill Roomdirector still can’t believe she gotUma ThurmanandSamuel L. Jacksonto have aPulp Fictionreunion on screen.
The movie is the first onscreen reunion of Thurman and Jackson since 1994’sPulp Fictionand 2004’sKill Bill: Vol.
2, and Paone reveals that fate played a big part in making it happen.
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It started with Thurman.
“She has brilliant clients and if she read this, I knew we could find our cast.
I didn’t think about it.
Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman star in ‘The Kill Room’.Shout! Studios
I just said, ‘Uma Thurman.'”
Paone is now a little terrified of her own ability to manifest her wildest dreams.
“I am so careful now about what I say,” she remarks with a laugh.
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Paone had never seen the actress behind Quentin Tarantino’s Mia Wallace and Beatrix Kiddo do full comedy.
“This had more subtleties to it.”
“The Gordon role was actually Herschel, a 72-year-old Jewish man,” Paone says.
“And then when Uma texted me, ‘Is Sam Jackson an option?’
I’m like, ‘Of course Sam Jackson is an option.
Uma, you could’t do that to me!'”
Paone laughs as she remembers thinking, “‘Her family is going to hate me.’
And now they understand!”
There were a lot of nerves there."
The nerves returned during the months of preparation leading up to filming.
It was one thing to present something to Thurman and Jackson.
It was another to direct them.
She turns and says, ‘Let’s get her, Sam,'" Paone recalls.
“Any nerves that you have just went away.”
She says, “They were really playful with each other.
Whatever I needed as a director, they were game for.”
The Kill Roomis also a family affair, as Thurmanstars oppositeher daughterMaya Hawkefor the first time.
“I kind of figured Uma probably gets asked that all the time,” Paone notes.
It was Thurman who brought up the idea over the phone during the casting phase.
Paone was impressed with theStranger ThingsandAsteroid Cityactress immediately.
“I had a smile from ear to ear watching them together.
It’s not a precious mother-and-daughter role.
They’re kind of going at each other.
Paone remembers Thurman and Hawke would pull up to set blasting Cardi B from their car.
“They were having fun,” she says.
“I wish I could have driven away with them, too.
There was so much to do on set, but I wanted to be in that car.”
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