“Killers of the Flower Moon” Character Video Reveals Leonardo DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart
“The character of Ernest Burkhart I found absolutely fascinating,” Leonardo DiCaprio says at the top of this new video detailing his Killers of the Flower Moon role. DiCaprio has, of course, re-teamed with director Martin Scorsese for the epic crime saga in a film adapted from investigative journalist David Grann’s captivating 2017 book of the same name. Yet Scorsese and his co-writer Eric Roth refocused their version on the relationship between DiCaprio’s Burkhart and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), a member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma. While Burkhart’s feelings for Mollie might be genuine, he is part of a wave of white people who have descended upon the Osage after the revelation that their land sat atop vast oil reserves, making them immensely rich. Steered by his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro), Burkhart’s relationship with Mollie, whom he eventually marries, carries the benefit of putting Ernest, and, by extension, William, on the path of riches. “We mix these families together, and that estate money flows in the right direction,” Hale says in a previous trailer. “It’ll come to us.”
While Ernest’s true feelings for Mollie grow, so, too, does his uncle’s influence as a series of brazen murders of the Osage people spread. This will eventually come to the attention of the U.S. Government, which sends Texas Ranger Tom White (Jesse Plemons) to investigate.
“Working with Leo and watching this master create this character, it’s unbelievable,” says Gladstone. The character DiCpario’s playing, however, is all too believable.
“I just love money,” Ernest says at one point in the film. “I love it as much as I love my wife.”
Check out the character chronicle video below. Killers of the Flower Moon hits theaters on October 20:
For more on Killers of the Flower Moon, check out these stories:
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” Unveils Thrilling New Trailer
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Trailer Unveils Martin Scorsese’s Star-Studded Epic
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” Will Premiere at Cannes
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” Gets Fall Release From Apple
Featured image: Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” coming soon to Apple TV+.