Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto shares behind-the-scenes details of the shocking spanking scene from Killers Of The Flower Moon

Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio are both acting powerhouses known for their strong performances and commitment to the craft. The duo recently collaborated with legendary director, Martin Scorsese, on Killers of the Flower Moon, which explores the Osage County murders from the early 1900s. In the film, De Niro and DiCaprio portray uncle and nephew, William King Hale and Ernest Burkhart.

Robert De Niro in Killers of the Flower Moon

One scene in the movie features De Niro’s Hale spanking DiCaprio’s Burkhart, leaving viewers shocked. The film’s cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, has made some shocking confessions about the scene and admitted that the veteran actor actually hit DiCaprio during the scene. Here is what Prieto revealed about that shocking scene.

Robert De Niro Spanked Leonardo DiCaprio For Real in Killers Of The Flower Moon

Rodrigo Prieto is an Academy Award-nominated cinematographer who worked on Killers Of The Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorsese. Prieto recently sat down to discuss the film with Business Insider. However, during the interview, Prieto came forward with the shocking revelation about the scene that sees Robert De Niro spanking Leonardo DiCaprio.

Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon

During the interview, Prieto admitted that De Niro is actually hitting DiCaprio during the scene. While DiCaprio was wearing protective padding over his butt, Prieto exclaimed that De Niro hit his co-star hard to draw the desired reaction necessary for the scene.

“I do remember doing them quite a few times and thinking, ‘Oh, that must hurt.’ There was some padding on his butt. But you could tell De Niro was really hitting him.”

As revealed by Prieto’s comments it took multiple takes to film the spanking scene. However, Prieto admitted that DiCaprio was all game for filming the scene with authenticity and allowed his co-actor to take an aim at his butt. As a result, the scene came out as one of the most shocking moments in Killers Of The Flower Moon.

The Spanking Scene Was Not Originally in the Script

A still from Killers of the Flower Moon

During the interview, Prieto also stated that the scene that sees William King Hale spanking his nephew, Ernest Burkhart, with a paddle, was not originally in the script. In the eponymous book by David Grann, on which the film is based, there is also no mention of Hale spanking Burkhart.

“I don’t think that was in the first script. That was something that was added, and it’s shocking in the film.”

Despite not being in the original script, the spanking scene serves as a deft addition to highlight the complex relationship between Hale and Burkhart. The scene demonstrates DiCaprio’s commitment to the craft as the actor went to great lengths to film the scene with authenticity.

Since Burkhart is a crucial pawn in Hale’s scheme to amass the Osage County natives’ wealth, he cannot directly threaten his nephew. Therefore, despite the shocking and sensational nature of the spanking scene, the associated humiliation for Burkhart serves as the unspoken threat that forces him to obey Hale.

Killers Of The Flower Moon is available to stream on select VOD platforms and will drop on Apple TV+ on January 12, 2024.