Margot Robbie: FIRST LOOK at Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s true-crime thriller has had its fair share of media spotlight, and not always in a good way.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has faced criticism for a lack of diversity in its cast as well as early links with Harvey Weinstein, before Tarantino severed links following allegations of his sexual abuse.

These shadows aside, the movie featuring the Mason Family murders in 1969 Los Angeles has been a widely anticipated.

You can get a first look at Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate in the upcoming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood right here at Express.co.uk

On the same day Tarantino announced his screenplay for the Manson-based crime mystery, Margot Robbie was reported to be in talks to portray Sharon Tate.

Tate was the real-life actress married to Roman Polanski, who was murdered in her own home by followers of Charles Manson.

The infamous case has been the subject of many pop-culture manifestations, from podcasts to documentary series.

The story of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows a has-been TV actor and his stunt double as they attempt to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the helter-skelter world of 1969 Los Angeles.

Initially set to be produced by Tarantino’s longtime partner, Harvey Weinstein, Sony made an unprecedented bid for the rights to Tarantino’s ninth film.

Unbelievably, they won, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood escaped one of the biggest scandals in movie history.

While Robbie’s role as Sharon Tate is one of the main lures, the Manson cult’s murder of Tate and her four friends is only the backdrop to the main story.

The TV actor and his stunt double friend are played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt respectively.

Other cast members include Burt Reynolds as George Spahn, the man whose ranch home was occupied by Manson and his cult in the months before they murdered Sharon Tate.

Damian Lewis plays the actor Steve McQueen and Luke Perry plays the actor Wayne Maunder.

Controversially, Emile Hirsch was cast as Jay Sebring, a friend of Sharon Tate who was one of the friends murdered in her home.

Hirsch’s hiring was criticised after presenter and actress Jameela Jamil took to Twitter to condemn Hirsh for assaulting her friend.

She said, despite being convicted and handed a sentence of 15 days in prison, Hirsch’s career did not seem unaffected, leading Jamil to assert via Twitter the casting was a prime example of “rich white male privelege” [sic].

Further cast members include Dakota Fanning, Clifton Collins Jr., Nicholas Hammond, Al Pacino, Scoot McNairy, Spencer Garrett, Mike Moh, Keith Jefferson, Eddie Perez, Maurice Compte, and Lew Temple.

Despite the controversy, both surrounding the movie itself and the story it tells, there are high hopes for Tarantino’s ninth movie.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is set for release in the UK and US on July 26, 2019.