Part 3/9:
Rebirth with Reservoir Dogs
Just before accepting a role in Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, Keitel had experienced a resurgence through engaging roles in The Last Temptation of Christ and Thelma and Louise. His decision to work on Reservoir Dogs marked a bold return to collaborating with untested directors, a risky move for an actor whose career was gradually rebounding.
The buzz around Keitel joining the cast of Reservoir Dogs attracted interest from other established actors like Christopher Walken and yielded a notable ensemble, including Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, and Tim Roth. Interestingly, Samuel L. Jackson auditioned for a role, but Tarantino chose Randy Brooks instead.