Leonardo DiCaprio took additional measures for his spanking scene with Robert De Niro in the film “Killers of the Flower Moon” by wearing padding on his buttocks. Rodrigo Prieto, the film’s cinematographer, revealed in an interview that although there was padding, De Niro was genuinely hitting DiCaprio. Prieto also mentioned that DiCaprio was willing to go to great lengths for the film.
The movie, directed by Martin Scorsese, is an adaptation of David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book. It recounts the murders of indigenous people in Osage County, Oklahoma, during the 1920s. DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart, the nephew of businessman William Hale, played by De Niro. The film also delves into the love story between Ernest and his wife Mollie Kyle, portrayed by Lily Gladstone.
The spanking scene, which was not part of the original script, occurs about halfway through the film. It was added later and has been described as shocking. The film also consulted with the current Osage Nation Chief Standing Bear to ensure the accurate portrayal of his people’s story. Scorsese later shifted the film’s focus to concentrate more on the relationship between Ernest and Mollie, giving actress Lily Gladstone a chance to shine.
