The Adventures of Cliff Booth

Development and casting

In July 2021, when asked about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) character Cliff Booth's time during World War II, Quentin Tarantino stated, "Someday I'll do his adventure in the POW camp".^[2]

In April 2025, David Fincher was reported to have been hired to direct a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood written by Tarantino, with Netflix having acquired the script and Brad Pitt reprising his role as Cliff Booth while Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly in talks to reprise his role as Rick Dalton in a cameo appearance.^[3][4] DiCaprio ultimately turned down the cameo.^[5] Pitt was instrumental in approaching Fincher to direct the film.^[6] It was reported by Deadline Hollywood later that same month that the film would be called The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth and would follow Booth as a Hollywood studio fixer.^[7] Tarantino later elaborated on his decision to not direct the film as his final project stating: "I love this script, but I'm still walking down the same ground I've already walked. It just kind of unenthused me. This last movie, I've got to not know what I'm doing again. I've got to be in uncharted territory".^[8]

In May 2025, Elizabeth Debicki and Scott Caan joined the cast.^[9][10] Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Carla Gugino and Holt McCallany joined the cast in June. By then the title was shortened to The Adventures of Cliff Booth.^[11][12][13] In July, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis and Karren Karagulian joined the cast, while David Heyman, Ceán Chaffin and Stacey Sher were added as producers, alongside Tarantino and Pitt.^[14][15][16] In August, Timothy Olyphant was set to reprise his role as James Stacy from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.^[17] In the same month, Tarantino described the budget for the film as the largest he has ever been associated with, adding that the film is going to be "in the region of $200 million".^[18] In September 2025, Barry Livingston revealed he was a part of the cast.^[19] Lauren Glazier and Peter Weller were revealed to be a part of the cast in October 2025.^[20][21] It was later revealed that Pitt received $40 million to produce and star, while Fincher and Tarantino received $20 million each.^[22]

Filming

Principal photography began in late July 2025 in California.^[10][16][14] Pitt was spotted filming scenes with Fogelmanis and Karagulian then.^[23] By early September, the production was seen recreating 1970s-style storefronts around the Highland Theatre in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park.^[14] Filming wrapped on January 15, 2026.^[24]

Music

In February 2026, it was reported that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were composing for the film, marking their sixth collaboration with Fincher.^[25]