Brad Pitt is heading back to late-‘60s Hollywood, well sort of. A follow-up to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is officially in the works, but this time, Quentin Tarantino is handing the director’s chair to David Fincher.
First reported by The Playlist and later confirmed by Deadline, the upcoming project is being described as a “derivative” of the original film but not a sequel. Tarantino wrote the script but chose not to direct it, instead passing it along to Pitt, who brought it to Fincher.
Pitt will reprise his role as Cliff Booth, the laid-back stuntman who stole scenes in Tarantino’s 2019 hit. No word yet on whether Leonardo DiCaprio or Margot Robbie will return as Rick Dalton or Sharon Tate. Plot details are being kept quiet, but The Hollywood Reporter claims the film will pull from Tarantino’s 2021 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood novel, which dove deeper into Booth’s backstory and solo escapades.
This marks another reunion between Pitt and Fincher, who previously teamed up on Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Their combined track record is heavy existential grit, psychological messiness, and a strong sense of style.
What’s different this time? For starters, it’s a Netflix production. That’s a break from Sony, who backed the original film. It’s also Fincher’s latest in a long line of projects with the streamer, following Mank, The Killer, and Mindhunter.
Whether this is tied to Tarantino’s now-shelved The Movie Critic—where Booth was rumoured to make an appearance is unclear. Also unclear is just how much blood, acid trips, or Bruce Lee impersonators we’re in for this time around.
Tarantino, who’s hinted at retirement for years, seems content to sit this one out. Pitt’s still game, Fincher’s behind the camera, and Netflix is footing the bill.
So no, it’s not quite a sequel. But it’s Cliff Booth, a Tarantino script, and David Fincher in control. That’s probably enough.
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