Movies - TV
Why Michael Madsen Had To Turn Down Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction
By MATT RAINIS
Quentin Tarantino is known for collaborating with the same actors over and over again, and Michael Madsen is no exception. After his initial appearance in “Reservoir Dogs,” Madsen appeared in four other Tarantino films, and although the filmmaker had envisioned Madsen playing the role of Vincent Vega in “Pulp Fiction,” the actor turned down the role.
Madsen was originally offered the role of Vincent Vega, but unfortunately, had to turn it down due to a scheduling conflict. As Madsen recalled, “I was already committed to ‘Wyatt Earp.’ And now, here’s Quentin, wants me to do ‘Pulp Fiction.’ And they were both going at the same time.” The role ended up going to John Travolta, who had a different recollection of being cast.
Travolta recalled being offered “Pulp Fiction” by Tarantino, saying “[Tarantino] had already cast Michael Madsen in his mind and that night I changed his mind, one way or another, and he decided to give me that role and offered it to me on the spot.” Madsen had no hard feelings, saying Travolta as Vega was “…a huge, huge, huge reason why the movie worked.”