The Adventures Of Cliff Booth: 5 Shocking New Details About The 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood 2' Sequel

The long-rumored sequel to Quentin Tarantino's 2019 masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is no longer a rumor. As of late 2025, the project—a spin-off focused on Brad Pitt's iconic character, Cliff Booth—is officially in the works, with some truly shocking new details emerging that change everything fans thought they knew about the future of the Tarantino-verse. Dubbed The Adventures of Cliff Booth, this follow-up is set to explore the life of the rugged stuntman eight years after the fateful night in 1969, but it comes with a major twist: Tarantino will not be in the director's chair. This is the freshest, most up-to-date information on the unexpected continuation of the Hollywood fairy tale.

The original film, which earned critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards, including a Best Supporting Actor win for Brad Pitt, left audiences fascinated by the fates of its central duo, Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth. While Tarantino had always entertained the idea of revisiting his characters, the official announcement of a sequel/spin-off, coupled with the news of a new director and a streaming home, marks a significant and unprecedented move for the filmmaker's cinematic universe. The anticipation for this return to 1970s Hollywood is palpable, especially with key cast members reportedly in negotiations to reprise their roles.

The Adventures of Cliff Booth: A Full Production Profile

The sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is taking a unique path, moving away from a traditional theatrical follow-up and embracing a new creative team and platform. This shift is a major talking point among cinephiles, especially given Quentin Tarantino's famous "ten-film limit" on his directorial career.

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• Official Title: The Adventures of Cliff Booth
• Original Story/Script: Quentin Tarantino
• Director: David Fincher
• Starring: Brad Pitt (Confirmed), Leonardo DiCaprio (In Talks)
• Release Platform: Netflix Original
• Expected Release Window: 2026
• Setting: Eight years after the original film, placing the story in the late 1970s.
• Production Status: Filming has reportedly begun, with scenes shot in locations like Long Beach.

5 Crucial Updates That Define the Hollywood Sequel

The development of The Adventures of Cliff Booth has been full of surprises. While the original film was a love letter to the golden age of Hollywood, the sequel promises to delve deeper into the life of its most mysterious character, Cliff Booth, against the backdrop of a changing, grittier 1970s film industry. These five points represent the most significant and recent information available about the project.

1. David Fincher is Directing, Not Quentin Tarantino

Perhaps the most seismic news is that Quentin Tarantino, the original film's writer and director, will only serve as the scriptwriter for the sequel. The director's chair will be occupied by acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher, known for masterpieces like Se7en, Fight Club, and Zodiac. This collaboration is unprecedented. While Tarantino has famously stated his intention to retire after his tenth film, the decision to hand over the reins of his intellectual property to another director—especially one of Fincher's caliber—has sent shockwaves through the industry. Fincher's signature dark, meticulous, and often cynical style is expected to bring a stark contrast to Tarantino's nostalgic, revisionist history, offering a potentially darker look at Cliff Booth's world.

2. The Sequel is Directly Tied to Tarantino's Cancelled Final Film

The context surrounding this sequel is deeply intertwined with the fate of what was supposed to be Quentin Tarantino's final directorial effort, The Movie Critic. Reports indicate that Tarantino officially scrapped and cancelled the project, which was set to star Brad Pitt. The development of The Adventures of Cliff Booth, with David Fincher directing and Brad Pitt starring, seems to have emerged directly from the ashes of The Movie Critic. Some sources even suggest that Fincher is now shooting what was initially intended to be Tarantino's next project. This narrative suggests that while Tarantino may be stepping away from directing, he is still actively involved in the creative output of his cinematic universe, passing on a script he had already prepared.

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3. Brad Pitt is Confirmed, Leonardo DiCaprio is in Talks

Brad Pitt is officially set to reprise his Oscar-winning role as Cliff Booth, the cool, enigmatic, and potentially dangerous stuntman. The title itself, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, confirms the narrative focus will be squarely on his character's life in the 1970s. Crucially, recent reports indicate that Leonardo DiCaprio is in talks to return as Rick Dalton. The electric chemistry between the two actors was a highlight of the original film, and their reunion would be a massive draw. The sequel is set eight years later, meaning Rick Dalton, the former TV star, would be approaching his mid-40s, likely navigating a completely different phase of his career, potentially having achieved the success he craved after the events of 1969.

4. The Plot Jumps Forward Eight Years to the Gritty 1970s

The original film was a meticulously detailed snapshot of 1969 Hollywood, a period of transition between the old studio system and the "New Hollywood" era. The sequel is set a full eight years later, placing the story firmly in the late 1970s. This is a fascinating period for a spin-off. The late 70s were characterized by the rise of blockbuster cinema, the peak of gritty, auteur-driven films, and a general cultural shift toward a more cynical outlook. For Cliff Booth, this time jump means exploring his life after the events of the Spahn Ranch confrontation, likely dealing with the consequences of his actions, his relationship with his dog Brandy, and his continued work, or lack thereof, in a rapidly evolving movie industry. The film will likely explore the changing landscape of stunt work and the counter-culture movement of the era.

5. It Will Be a Netflix Original with a Planned 2026 Release

Moving away from a traditional theatrical release, The Adventures of Cliff Booth is being developed as a Netflix Original film. This decision reflects the changing dynamics of the film industry and the willingness of major stars and directors to work with streaming giants. The planned release window is set for 2026, giving fans a solid timeline for when they can expect to revisit the world of Rick and Cliff. The shift to Netflix also suggests that the film may take a more serialized or episodic approach, fitting the "Adventures" title, although it is currently being reported as a feature film. The buzz surrounding the production, including recent filming in Long Beach, confirms that the project is moving ahead rapidly and is a priority for the streaming service.

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The Topical Authority: Cliff Booth’s Enduring Mystery

Why a spin-off focused solely on Cliff Booth? The character was arguably the most compelling and mysterious element of the original film. Cliff Booth, the stunt double and driver for Rick Dalton, was a decorated war veteran with a dark past—specifically, the persistent rumor that he murdered his wife. The original film never definitively confirmed or denied this, leaving a tantalizing ambiguity. This mystery, coupled with his unflappable demeanor and his mastery of violence, makes him a perfect subject for a standalone narrative.

A 1970s-set story, directed by a master of psychological thrillers like David Fincher, has the potential to finally address the lingering questions about Cliff’s past, or perhaps introduce new, equally ambiguous moral dilemmas. The sequel can explore the thematic elements of loyalty, the consequences of violence, and the disillusionment that often followed the idealistic 1960s. Entities like the Manson Family, Spahn Ranch, and the Cielo Drive tragedy were central to the original's climax, but the sequel will likely shift focus to new historical and cinematic entities of the late 70s, such as the rise of disaster films, the influence of New Hollywood directors, and the changing landscape of the stuntman profession. The film is poised to be a deep-dive into the character’s psyche, offering a fresh, darker perspective on the "Hollywood" universe Tarantino created.