Rumblings that Quentin Tarantino's next film would have something to do with the Manson Family murders began perculating earlier this year, and the recently announced release date really hammers that point home. Variety reports that Quentin Tarantino's as-yet-untitled ninth film will be released on August 9, 2019, which just happens to be the 50th anniversary of the Tate murders, a series of killings carried out by Charles Manson's followers which claimed the lives of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, and Steven Parent.
This could just be me, but choosing that date seems a little…vulgar. Of course, we recently learned that the film won't be putting its focus directly on Charles Manson and his followers, but will instead follow a "male TV actor who’s had one hit series and his looking for a way to get into the film business. His sidekick—who’s also his stunt double—is looking for the same thing. The horrific murder of Sharon Tate and four of her friends by Charles Manson’s cult of followers serves as a backdrop to the main story." At the moment, the only other film scheduled for that date is Disney's adaptation of ARTEMIS FOWL. There's no word on casting just yet for the Sony Pictures film, but overtures have apparently been made to Margot Robbie, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt.
Most of Quentin Tarantino's films have occupied more award-friendly dates, but his last film to debut in August, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, would go on to become the highest-grossing film of his career, before it was dethroned by DJANGO UNCHAINED several years later.