Although this news first appeared on April 1, 2025, it’s not an April Fool’s joke. It turns out that David Fincher is directing a follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Yes, the guy who never lets anyone else direct his scripts has apparently allowed Fincher to take over. 

Also, guess who’s back? Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth, Hollywood’s most laid-back stuntman. This time, Pitt will once again collaborate with David Fincher, and this team-up will happen at Netflix, with production commencing in California in July. But somehow, Quentin Tarantino is nowhere to be seen near the director’s chair. Why? Let’s check out. 

When the cast of Pulp Fiction gathered in 2024 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 classic, rumors of the filmmaker’s forthcoming 10th and final movie, The Movie Critic, appeared. However, it was later reported that Tarantino had scrapped the idea and gone back to the drawing board. 

But recently, in a cinematic twist that left film enthusiasts buzzing, The Playlist shared exclusive news about David Fincher directing a follow-up to Tarantino’s 2019 hit, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This unexpected collaboration emerged from a project Tarantino had previously planned as his final film, The Movie Critic, until he ultimately abandoned it.

According to THR, The Movie Critic was set in the 1970s and narrated the tale of a movie reviewer for a p*rnographic magazine. The script also featured Brad Pitt’s return as Cliff Booth, the easygoing stuntman and driver of beleaguered star Rick Dalton, originally played by Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Now, Pitt took great interest in and analyzed the script. Thereafter, mesmerized by certain aspects of the script, which never seemed to stop evolving, and his character’s part in it, Pitt reportedly hoped for Tarantino to address the script’s potential. However, as the filmmaker refused, Pitt asked whether he would consider letting someone else direct. 

And just like that, Brad Pitt turned to his longtime collaborator for Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button—David Fincher. Now, shockingly, someone like Tarantino, who always directs his own material, gave his blessings to Fincher and Pitt, and allowed them to work on his screenplay for The Movie Critic. 

Now, the film will be released under the name Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but interestingly, it won’t serve as a sequel or prequel to the OG 2019 movie. Considering how Tarantino owns the characters from the original film and Sony retains the rights to the movie itself, Fincher’s film will have a unique arrangement. 

Under Quentin Tarantino’s rights, Fincher will get to utilize the characters, but due to Sony holding the film rights, the director won’t be able to call his film a traditional sequel. Why? because the movie isn’t being made under Sony—it is being produced by Netflix, where Fincher has a first-look deal.

So far, it has been revealed that Tarantino will write the screenplay and script for the film, with Brad Pitt returning to helm his role as Cliff Booth. As for other cast members, it’s uncertain whether Leonardo DiCaprio will return as Rick Dalton, though there are rumors of a possible cameo. 

Meanwhile, production is slated to begin in California this July, with a budget reportedly around $200 million. While details about the plot and the film remain under tight wraps, the project is being described as a “derivative” of the original rather than a direct sequel, focusing on Cliff Booth’s character. 

Although fans seem excited about David Fincher’s follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, people are concerned about why Tarantino refused to take on the directorial responsibilities. Well, it turns out his absence from the director’s chair is probably due to his self-imposed “10-film rule.”

Back in 2014, speaking with Deadline, Tarantino reflected on his retirement plan after making only 10 movies in Hollywood. Unlike legendary filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Francis Ford Coppola, who are continuing their work lives well above the age of 80, Tarantino refused to follow the same path. 

Claiming to be an “entertainer” who knows when to stop, Tarantino noted that 10 films should be enough for Hollywood to remember him by if he manages to do it right. Hoping to end his old career in a way that fans keep wanting more, the filmmaker revealed his idea. 

I don’t believe you should stay onstage until people are begging you to get off. I like the idea of leaving them wanting a bit more. I do think directing is a young man’s game… I’m not trying to ridicule anyone who thinks differently, but I want to go out while I’m still hard.

I like that I will leave a 10-film filmography, and so I’ve got two more to go after this. It’s not etched in stone, but that is the plan. If I get to the 10th, do a good job, and don’t screw it up, well that sounds like a good way to end the old career. 

If, later on, I come across a good movie, I won’t not do it just because I said I wouldn’t. But 10 and done, leaving them wanting more — that sounds right. 

Later, in a 2022 interview with CNN‘s Chris Wallace, Tarantino once again reminded people about his 10-film rule. Informing people that he has “been doing it for 30 years,” the filmmaker noted that “it’s time to wrap up the show.” Unwilling to “work to diminishing returns,” Tarantino hoped to “leave you wanting more.” 

Therefore, based on this 10-film rule that he had long stated, it seems that the director is refraining from breaking his promise. Considering that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was his 10th film, Tarantino refused to work on The Movie Critic and scrapped the plan. However, since Brad Pitt liked the idea and found David Fincher as the director, Tarantino agreed to offer him the script. 

Previously, Tarantino made a mistake in calculating his films, which is why he started working on the script for The Movie Critic. Remember how Kill Bill was originally released in two parts? Well, it turns out that since Tarantino filmed it together and later broke it into two different films released in 2003 and 2004, respectively, he considered them one. 

Unfortunately, due to two different release dates, Tarantino later realized that Kill Bill 2 would have to be calculated as a separate movie. So, with Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Volume 1, Kill Bill Volume 2, Death Proof, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino has already completed his 10-film list. 

Additionally, there could be another possible reason for Quentin Tarantino not to direct the upcoming movie. It’s probably because the filmmaker has expressed interest in exploring other creative avenues, such as theater. At the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, he revealed plans to write a stage play, indicating a shift in his artistic focus (via Variety). 

If you’re wondering what I’m doing right now, I’m writing a play. It’s probably going to be the next thing I end up doing. If it’s a fiasco I probably won’t turn it into a movie. But if it’s a smash hit? It might be my last movie. 

So perhaps his busy schedule writing a stage play allows him to honor his 10-film commitment while still contributing to the cinematic world through his writing.

Now that we know Quentin Tarantino won’t be helming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2, let’s pay tribute to his roles in the 2019 movie. While Tarantino is best known for his directorial prowess, he also made a subtle appearance in Leonardo DiCaprio’s film. However, unlike his more prominent cameos in films like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, his contributions here were more understated.

In the film, Tarantino lent his voice to two segments. First, he voiced the announcer in the promotional reel for Bounty Law, the fictional Western TV show starring Rick Dalton. His distinctive tone added authenticity to the 1960s-style promo. Second, during the end credits, Tarantino voiced the director in a commercial for Red Apple Cigarettes, a fictional brand recurring in his filmography.  

In this brief moment, he can be heard calling “and cut!” as Dalton storms off the set. These subtle inclusions showcased the director’s penchant for embedding himself into his films in unique ways, adding layers of meta-commentary and personal touch to his storytelling. Not to mention, he also played the role of the real-life director for the cult classic, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.