Martin Scorsese’s new film Killer of the Flower Moon unites some of his long-time collaborators and exciting new faces to recount a terrifying true story. Based on David Grann’s eponymous book, the film is set in the 1920s when an exorbitant amount of petroleum was discovered under the land of the Osage, quickly turning the tribe into the richest nation in the world per capita. What seemed like a divine gift quickly became a curse as a series of brutal murders began to sweep the tribe.
The book is a nauseating look into the very worst of humanity, exposing how the greed of privileged men nearly annihilate one of the most traditional Native American tribes of the Midwest. The audience is excited about Scorsese’s new film because it has everything it needs to be equally powerful: the director has already brought epic true stories to the big screen with Raging Bull and The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon‘s star-studded cast hints at a new impactful masterpiece.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart
Perhaps the biggest change between the book and the movie is Scorsese’s decision to center the narrative around the two antagonists, giving Leonardo DiCaprio a chance to shine in one of the lead roles. He plays Ernest Burkhart, a seeming ally of the Osage tribe, married to Mollie, one of their key community figures. However, behind the mask of a caring husband and competent father lies a fragile man manipulated by his uncle to betray those who welcomed him in their homes and take everything from them.
Scorsese and DiCaprio are long-term collaborators, having worked together on other successful real-life stories such as The Aviator, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street. DiCaprio received his first Oscar nomination at age 19 for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, followed by other five acting nominations. He finally earned a deserved Best Actor statuette for The Revenant, in which he plays a frontiersman going through hell to survive in the wilderness injured and alone.
Robert De Niro as William K. Hale
William Hale is the main antagonist of Killers of the Flower Moon, a vile businessman with enough power and influence to mobilize a terrifying conspiracy against the Osage nation in order to steal their money and land. Robert De Niro is a familiar face in Scorsese movies as the two work together ever since their early years.
De Niro starred in Scorsese’s impeccable 70-80s hot streak, with movies such as Taxi Driver, The Kind of Comedy, and Raging Bull, the latter earning him an Oscar for his portrayal of the famous American boxer Jake LaMotta. Active in the film industry since the 60s, De Niro went on to play a range of iconic roles such as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II, Neil McCauley in Heat, and more recently, Murray Franklin in Joker.
Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart
While Killers of the Flower Moon has many different storylines going on simultaneously, Mollie Burkhart is undeniably the soul of the film. Member of a traditional Osage family (and also one of the richest), Mollie witnesses her closest friends and relatives being taken down one by one, unaware that her husband is one of the key players in the Osage murders.
She’s played by Lily Gladstone, who received unanimous praise and long-standing ovations at the film’s premiere in Cannes 2023. Gladstone rose to prominence with her supporting role in the highly acclaimed First Cow, directed by Kelly Reichardt, whom she previously worked with in Certain Women. Gladstone’s role in Killers of the Flower Moon represents a pivotal career moment, as the actress considered quitting acting before Scorsese requested a Zoom call with her.
Tantoo Cardinal as Lizzie Q
Lizzie Q, Mollie’s mother and one of the key members of the Osage Nation who fall victim to the series of murders, is played by Tantoo Cardinal. Lizzie is the head of the family and is one of the few Osage in the tribe that still fully embraces tradition. Cardinal might look familiar to many: she has been breaking Native American stereotypes in the entertainment industry since the 70s, collecting many TV roles throughout the decades, and starring in movies such as Legends of the Fall, Dances With Wolves, and Wind River.
Jesse Plemons as Tom White
Tom White, the lead FBI investigator in the Osage murders case, is played by Jesse Plemons. While Killers of the Flower Moon is predominantly about the disturbing conspiracy targeting the Osage and their fortune, it also follows the birth of the FBI as it’s currently known. After years of revolting negligence in the investigation and a stacking body count, the Osage case brought into the picture the importance of a federal entity dealing with delicate affairs such as this. In this context, Tom White is the one assigned to lead the dangerous investigation.
Plemons became notorious after his diabolical role as Todd in Breaking Bad, earning a lead role in the anthological show Fargo and setting off a memorable career in film. He also starred in movies such as Vice, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and The Power of the Dog, which granted him his first Oscar nomination. It’s not the actor’s first time working with Scorsese; he played Chuckie O’Brien in The Irishman.
Brendan Fraser as W. S. Hamilton
W. S. Hamilton, William K. Hale’s ruthless lawyer, is played by Brendan Fraser in a rare villainous role. The actor became famous for starring in The Mummy franchise as Rick O’Connell, appearing in three of the movies. While Fraser is most commonly known for a wide range of fantasy movies that also include Journey to the Center of the World and Inkheart, he also took part in major Oscar contenders such as Crash and, more recently, The Whale, Darren Aronofsky’s moving drama that earned Fraser critical acclaim after years under the industry radar; in the end, he went on to win an Oscar for his performance.
John Lithgow as Prosecutor Leaward
John Lithgow takes over the role of Prosecutor Leaward in Killers of the Flower Moon. The actor is a TV veteran most commonly known for his role as Arthur Mitchell, or the Trinity Killer, in Dexter, arguably the show’s most memorable antagonist, and Winston Churchill in the Netflix drama The Crown. Lithgow is also a familiar face on the big screen, starring in popular movies such as Interstellar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Blow Out. The actor gained widespread recognition in the 80s and earned two Oscar acting nominations for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment.
Jason Isbell as Bill Smith
Bill Smith is one of the few white people close to the Osage that is worthy of trust, which makes him an enemy of those killing the members of the tribe. He’s played by Jason Isbell, famous for his work outside the film industry: Isbell is a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist who has won four Grammy Awards. He was one of the key contributors to the soundtrack of A Star is Born, which also includes other big names such as Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. While Isbell previously appeared in TV shows, Killers of the Flower Moon marks his first relevant role on the big screen.