Ennio Morricone says that trash-talking interview about Quentin Tarantino is fake

In another instance of a Hollywood figure finding words they apparently never said printed in a feature, iconic Italian composer Ennio Morricone has denied talking trash about director Quentin Tarantino in an interview.

The lauded Hollywood composer has issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter denying that he gave the interview to the German edition of Playboy, and that he harshly criticised The Hateful Eight director in said interview.

The Playboy feature has Morricone not only dismissing events like the Oscars, but calling Tarantino names and accusing the director of borrowing ideas.

The 90-year-old composer, who has worked with Tarantino during his career, recently writing the Oscar-winning film score for The Hateful Eight, says the interview is entirely fabricated.

"I have never expressed any negative statements about the Academy, Quentin, or his films — and certainly do not consider his films garbage," reads the statement published by THR.

"I consider Tarantino a great director. I am very fond of my collaboration with him and the relationship we have developed during the time we have spent together," he added. "I credit our collaboration responsible for getting me an Oscar, which is for sure one of the greatest acknowledgments of my career."

Here's the full statement:

It has come to my attention that Playboy Germany has come out with an article in which I have stated extremely negative comments about Tarantino and his films, and the Academy. I have never expressed any negative statements about the Academy, Quentin, or his films — and certainly do not consider his films garbage. I have given a mandate to my lawyer in Italy to take civil and penal action.

I consider Tarantino a great director. I am very fond of my collaboration with him and the relationship we have developed during the time we have spent together. He is courageous and has an enormous personality. I credit our collaboration responsible for getting me an Oscar, which is for sure one of the greatest acknowledgments of my career, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to compose music for his film.

In London, during a press conference in front of Tarantino, I clearly stated that I consider Quentin one of the greatest directors of this time, and I would never speak poorly of the Academy — an important institution that has given to me two of the most important acknowledgments of my career.

As detailed in Morricone's statement, the composer is looking into taking legal action on the matter.

Mashable has reached out to Playboy for comment.