Tarantino Says He Felt He Let Pitt Down Over Cliff Booth Sequel

On November 4, Quentin Tarantino said he felt he had let Brad Pitt down when he chose not to helm a continuation of the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Pitt had wanted to return as stuntman Cliff Booth, the character he played in the 2019 film, which earned him a supporting actor Oscar.

Tarantino wrote the follow-up, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, but it will be directed by David Fincher rather than serve as Tarantino’s planned tenth and final film as director. Tarantino said he was excited when Fincher showed interest, while also trying not to overwhelm him with that enthusiasm. He said Fincher’s involvement affirmed the strength of the script.

The new film moves the story to 1977, with Booth working as a Hollywood studio fixer. Fincher said Pitt’s deep familiarity with the character shaped their work together: while Fincher knew the new material, Pitt understood Booth’s personality and could push back on choices that did not fit.

The film has not had industry or festival screenings, though audiences at AFI Fest saw its first 17 minutes last month. Academy screenings featuring Fincher and some cast members are scheduled for November 14 in Los Angeles and November 20 in New York. Pitt is not listed for the question-and-answer sessions.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are composing the score. The film, which also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Timothy Olyphant, Carla Gugino, Scott Caan and Elizabeth Debicki, will play exclusively in IMAX for two weeks from November 25 before streaming on Netflix. Regal and Cinemark have declined to show it, citing the short theatrical window.