David Fincher and Brad Pitt are reportedly set to collaborate once again, this time to bring a sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to life. According to The Playlist, the project is slated for Netflix, furthering Fincher's established partnership with the streaming service. The film, which remains untitled, will see Pitt reprise his role as the stuntman Cliff Booth.
The intriguing backstory of how Fincher acquired the script adds an extra layer of excitement to the project. It is an evolved version of Tarantino's previously shelved script, The Movie Critic, which was initially intended to be his final film. Tarantino's decision to entrust Fincher with his vision ensures that the story will not be lost to time.
Reports from The Playlist indicate that Netflix has secured the screenplay for $20 million, with a hefty $200 million budget set aside for production. Filming is expected to commence in California in July, just three months away. While no other casting announcements have been made, it's confirmed that Leonardo DiCaprio will not return as Rick Dalton. Both Fincher and Pitt are fully committed to this project, sidelining all other work to focus on this sequel.
Deadline has confirmed these developments, noting that Pitt received Tarantino's approval to share the script with Fincher, setting the stage for this unexpected collaboration.
Quentin Tarantino's Most Notable Abandoned (Or Delayed) Projects
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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, released in 2019, is celebrated as a stellar addition to Tarantino's filmography. The sequel, potentially titled Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2, faces the challenge of matching its predecessor's high standards. The original film concluded definitively, but its universe has been further explored in other media.
In 2021, Tarantino released a novelization of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which not only retold the film's story but also delved deeper into the 1960s California setting. The novel provided new insights into Cliff Booth's backstory, including the contentious issue of whether he killed his wife, a question left open in the film. This book is likely to gain additional significance with the release of the sequel, though its exact impact on the film's narrative remains to be seen.
For a deeper dive into Tarantino's work, you can explore the director's thoughts on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and how it compares to his other films. Our original review of the movie awarded it a 7.8 out of 10.
