David Fincher and Brad Pitt are reportedly re-teaming to revive a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel script written by original director Quentin Tarantino.
Details on what could eventually be a groundbreaking entry in Tarantino’s resume come from The Playlist, which says the Se7en duo is propping up the unexpected film to come to Netflix, continuing Fincher’s long-lasting relationship with the streaming giant. Should everything proceed according to plan, the currently untitled Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel would see Pitt return as stunt-double star Cliff Booth.
How such a script came into Fincher’s possession is its own wild story. The Tarantino screenplay is said to be an evolved version of a story previously known as The Movie Critic, a project previously lined up to be the Pulp Fiction mastermind’s final film before it was suddenly shelved last year. Tarantino was seemingly uninterested in letting the idea fade to black and is getting Fincher to bring it to life.
The Playlist’s sources say Netflix paid $20 million to acquire the screenplay with an expected $200 million budget and plans to shoot in California in July – just three months from now. No additional casting details have been confirmed just yet, but Leonardo DiCaprio is not expected to return as Rick Dalton. Fincher and Pitt are putting aside all other projects to focus on this new Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel.
Deadline later corroborated The Playlist’s findings that a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel is in development. Its sources say Pitt received Tarantino’s blessing to present the script to Fincher, resulting in the wildly surprising project that is now in the works.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood premiered in 2019 and is largely viewed as yet another outstanding entry in the Tarantino pantheon. That said, what could eventually be known as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2 has a lot to live up to. The original project came with an unambiguous ending that tied up its story with a brutal bow. However, much of its world has been explored elsewhere.
In 2021, Tarantino released a novelization covering the movie’s events while expanding upon its take on a 1960s California. It brought a few interesting revelations about Cliff Booth’s past to the conversation, including an answer to whether or not the dog lover really did kill his wife as teased in the movie. It’s a book that will no doubt carry more meaning when the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel finally sees the light of day, though it’s unclear just how important to the story it will be.
For more on Tarantino’s catalog of hit films, you can check out how the director feels about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and how we feel it stacks up against his other work. You can also read our original 7.8/10 review for the film.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
