David Fincher and Brad Pitt are reportedly collaborating once again, this time to revive a sequel script to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood penned by the original film's director, Quentin Tarantino. According to The Playlist, this unexpected project is set to be produced for Netflix, further solidifying Fincher’s ongoing partnership with the streaming service. If all goes according to plan, the untitled sequel will feature Brad Pitt reprising his role as the stunt double, Cliff Booth.
The journey of this script to Fincher is intriguing in itself. It is said to be a developed version of a story initially known as The Movie Critic, which Tarantino had considered as his final film before shelving it last year. Unwilling to let the concept die, Tarantino has now entrusted Fincher to bring it to fruition.
The Playlist reports that Netflix acquired the screenplay for $20 million and plans to allocate a $200 million budget for the production, with filming scheduled to commence in California in July. While no other casting details have been confirmed, it appears that Leonardo DiCaprio will not reprise his role as Rick Dalton. Both Fincher and Pitt are reportedly setting aside other commitments to focus solely on this sequel.
Deadline has also confirmed that a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel is in the works, corroborating The Playlist's report. Sources indicate that Pitt received Tarantino's approval to share the script with Fincher, leading to this surprising development.
Quentin Tarantino's Most Notable Abandoned (Or Delayed) Projects
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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, released in 2019, is widely regarded as a stellar addition to Tarantino's oeuvre. The sequel, potentially titled Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2, faces the challenge of living up to its predecessor's high standards. The original film concluded with a definitive ending, but its universe has been further explored in other media.
In 2021, Tarantino expanded the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood universe with a novelization that delved deeper into the 1960s California setting and provided new insights into Cliff Booth's backstory, including the mystery surrounding the death of his wife. This novelization may gain additional significance with the release of the sequel, though its exact role in the new film remains uncertain.
For a deeper dive into Tarantino's filmography, you can explore the director's thoughts on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and how it compares to his other works. Additionally, our original review of the film awarded it a score of 7.8 out of 10.
