While shooting ‘Kill Bill Vol 2,’ Quentin Tarantino aimed to show off the Bride’s determined nature with a fast-driving scene, but it turned out to be one of the most notorious Hollywood on-set accidents in recent decades. While the director sought an authentic shot of Uma Thurman driving the car, the actress had some safety concerns even before the cameras started rolling.
Her worst fear came true when her car crashed. The accident put everyone on the set on edge and prompted Thurman to distance himself from the filmmaker. Looking back, Tarantino famously described it as the greatest regret of his career.
Uma Thurman Had Reservations About The Driving Sequence
The disturbing incident occurred during the shooting of ‘Kill Bill: Volume 2,’ a follow-up to the riginal 20023 movie. During filming, Uma Thurman drove a vintage Volkswagen Karmann Ghia in a scene where her character, Bride, leaves Bill’s house and heads down a dirt road.
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Tarantino wanted Thurman at the wheel rather than a stunt double, so the camera would capture all her emotions, especially the wind and the wind whipping through her hair. In an interview with The New York Times, Thurman later revealed that she had been uneasy about the scene’s safety before filming began.
Apparently, when a crew member told her there were no guarantees the car wouldn’t break or explode, she wasted no time asking for a stunt double. However, Tarantino assured her that the car was “fine” and that the road was “a straight piece of road.”
For Thurman, things were quite the contrary—the seat was not fixed firmly, and the road was sandy, not straight. While shooting, she lost control of the convertible and crashed it into a palm tree, leading to a severe concussion and lasting injuries to her neck and knees.
Quentin Tarantino Took Responsibility For The Mishap
That accident led to an emotional conflict between Thurman and Tarantino, with the actress accusing the director of attempting to murder her. After all, she did cite her concerns, which Tarantino ignored before and during the shooting.
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Years later, the scandal gained more fuel when the video of the accident spread online, and Tarantino finally took the fall. “I am guilty, for putting her in that car,” he said, calling the incident “the biggest regret of my life.”
Despite the years-long strain in their relationship because of the tragic on-set accident of ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2,’ Thurman later clarified that she did not think Tarantino wished her any harm. The ‘Pulp Fiction’ actress acknowledged his sincere repentance, and they reconciled.
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