Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood’ Follow-Up: Not a Sequel, But What Is It?

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Recently, various April Fool’s Day jokes circulated online, but one particular joke stood out as the most far-fetched. However, as time went by, it transpired that this outrageous idea was indeed true: Quentin Tarantino’s tribute to Hollywood is set to receive a sequel on Netflix. This surprising news left fans of the unconventional director of films like Pulp Fiction and Inglourious Basterds stunned, as Tarantino will not be directly involved in the project as a director but only as a writer. The title for this sequel to Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood remains unknown, but Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins, hosts of “The Big Picture” podcast, have disclosed some details about it. Things are getting increasingly… peculiar.

According to Screen Rant’s “The Big Picture” episode, Fennessey and Dobbins revealed an unusual update regarding the upcoming sequel. David Fincher is directing this project, with Brad Pitt playing Cliff Booth. Booth is Rick Dalton’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) stuntman, and a strong ally to the struggling movie star who confronts the Manson Family in Tarantino’s revisionist comedy-drama’s final act. Interestingly, the new film isn’t a direct sequel; instead, it is set within the same universe as “Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood.

It appears that this upcoming movie is indeed happening. Allow me to clarify. This isn’t exactly a sequel, but more like an extension or continuation. Instead, think of it as a new adventure featuring the same character, similar to how “The Big Sleep,” the Raymond Chandler adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart, and “Farewell, My Lovely,” the 1975 Robert Mitchum film, are set in the same world but with different actors, directors, and timelines. They are distinct stories, not true sequels, they are just more adventures of [Cliff].

A key piece of additional information I’ve gathered and believe to be accurate is that the movie is set in the year 1977. This places it approximately eight years after the events portrayed in “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”, meaning we’re looking at a different period in Cliff’s life.

In simpler terms, this complex situation might stem from Quentin Tarantino’s unusual agreement with Sony, allowing him to own the characters but not their title. Is it possibly a spin-off or a story set in the same world where Dalton and Booth defeat the Manson family followers? One may think it’s a sequel, but given all these uncertainties, it’s too soon for definitive answers.

Does a Sequel to Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood‘ Make Sense?

Among all of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” seems to be a standalone story that might not require a follow-up. While some may debate the feasibility of a sequel, given the potential continuation of Cliff Booth’s tale alongside Rick Dalton (there are whispers that DiCaprio could reappear), the film was met with exceptional praise. Many viewers hailed it as an ideal tribute that should have marked the pinnacle of Tarantino’s illustrious career as a movie aficionado.

We haven’t received any news yet about his role in his latest movie project, but it seems he might not be the director this time around. Instead, he may focus on writing the script and then shift to other creative ventures. Quentin Tarantino has demonstrated his writing talents with the novelization of “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” which opens up possibilities for expanding the characters Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth’s stories.

Among all this, Netflix stands out as an anomaly… In fact, the director has previously stated that Netflix films are not part of the cultural consciousness, and he doesn’t have a great rapport with contemporary cinema. However, he retains a share of the IP for “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” even though he might not appreciate his Tinseltown tribute being labeled as an “IP.” Regardless of whether it fits or not, this project is moving forward.

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2025-04-07 22:31