How Quentin Tarantino accidentally created Hollywood star Michael Fassbender

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Imagine: 1992, a small Irish town of Killarney. A 16-year-old teenager steps out of the cinema with shining eyes. He has just seen "Reservoir Dogs" by Quentin Tarantino — a film that will change his life. This young man is Michael Fassbender, the future star of Hollywood, whose path to fame will begin right at this moment.

But the most amazing thing is that Tarantino will play a key role in his destiny twice — with an interval of 17 years; we tell what exactly connects the stars.
Actor Michael Fassbender with a calm smile
Michael Fassbender
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First Step Towards Acting

The impression from watching "Reservoir Dogs" in the 90s was so strong that the young decided to stage his own version of the film in the local amateur theater Bricru. He personally played the role of Mr. Pink (originally played by Steve Buscemi).

This production became Michael's first serious step towards an acting career. For some time, he performed professionally in the Killarney city theater, but he was not content with small roles. Dreaming of becoming a great actor, Fassbender moved to London, where he entered the prestigious Drama Centre.
Young Michael Fassbender lies on the grass, holding a soccer ball in one hand
Young Michael Fassbender
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Through Thorns to the Stars

The life of an aspiring actor was not a bed of roses. To pay for housing in the capital of Britain, Fassbender had to work as a loader, waiter, and even a stripper in a nightclub.

The thirst to perform on stage and eventually act in films was so strong that Michael decided not to finish university. He dropped out to tour with the Oxford Theatre troupe.
Young Michael Fassbender as a soldier in the series "Band of Brothers"
Frame from the series "Band of Brothers"
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The rise of the talented young man to the stars was slow but steady. Fassbender's first roles in film were small: the series "Hearts and Bones," "Band of Brothers," "Holby City."

Fassbender's breakthrough as a promising actor came in 2006 with the release of the blockbuster "300," where he played the fearless warrior Stelios. For this role, Michael had to work hard on his physical form:
For '300,' we trained for, I think, ten weeks before stepping in front of the camera. And since the film is very dynamic, I think I have maybe four lines in it. So it's a very dynamic character performance. Therefore, preparation was key. But yes, I just enjoyed, you know, training and getting paid for it.

The Second Fateful Encounter with Tarantino

And so, 17 years after the amateur production of "Reservoir Dogs," fate once again brought Fassbender and Tarantino together, this time on a professional level.

In 2009, the director invited him to play the role of British spy Archie Hicox in "Inglourious Basterds." Although it wasn't the lead role, it became significant for the actor.

His excellent mastery of the German language, inherited from his father, helped Fassbender create a convincing image of an officer masquerading as a Nazi.
Michael Fassbender in military uniform in the film "Inglourious Basterds"
Scene from the film "Inglourious Basterds"
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The bar scene, where his character engages in a tense verbal duel, is still considered one of the most striking in the film.

Interestingly, Fassbender initially did not want to play the role of Archie. He was interested in Hans Landa (the main German antagonist). But during the audition, Tarantino offered Michael a completely different character - Archie:
I just got into it and was almost sure I messed up. I immediately called my parents after I left and said, 'I messed up. I ruined it.'
In the end, the doubts were unfounded. Tarantino approved him for the role of Hicox, and Michael made history by participating in one of the most memorable scenes in the film.

After "Inglourious Basterds," Fassbender's career took off. The role of Magneto in "X-Men," Oscar nominations for "12 Years a Slave" and "Steve Jobs." Fassbender began collaborating with directors like Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, and Steven Soderbergh.

None of this might have happened if it weren't for that trip to see "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992. It's amazing how one decision by a teenager can trigger a chain of events leading to Hollywood fame.
Quentin Tarantino hugging Michael Fassbender at the premiere of "Inglourious Basterds"
Quentin Tarantino and Michael Fassbender
Do you think Fassbender's scene in "Inglourious Basterds" is the most memorable in the film?

Earlier at zoomboola.com, we reported on the role of actress Milla Jovovich, which Quentin Tarantino considers one of the best in cinema.