Elmore Leonard Leonard also contributed one chapter (the twelfth of thirteen) to the 1996 "Miami Herald" parody serial novel "Naked Came the Manatee" (). Twenty-six of Leonard's novels and short stories have been adapted for the screen (19 as motion pictures and another seven as television programs). Aside from the short stories already noted, a number of Leonard's novels have been adapted as films, including "Get Shorty" (1990 novel, 1995 film), "Out of Sight" (1996 novel, 1998 film), and "Rum Punch" (1992 novel, 1997 film "Jackie Brown"). "52 Pick-Up" (1986 film) was first adapted very loosely into the 1984 film "The Ambassador"
Quentin Tarantino starring Duane Whitaker in the title role. Tarantino's screenplay "True Romance" was optioned and the film was eventually released in 1993. The second script that Tarantino sold was for the film "Natural Born Killers", which was revised by Dave Veloz, Richard Rutowski and director Oliver Stone. Tarantino was given story credit and in an interview stated that he wished the film well, but later disowned the final film. The film engendered enmity, and the publication of a 'tell all' book titled "Killer Instinct" by Jane Hamsher—who with Don Murphy had an original option on the screenplay and produced the film—led