Quentin Tarantino Is 6 Months Away From A 30-Year First

As one of the most iconic filmmakers of all time, Quentin Tarantino's upcoming movie is gearing up to be his biggest in years, as it will end a seven-year hiatus. Ever since dropping Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, speculation about Tarantino's next project has been rampant, but we now know he'll be penning The Adventures of Cliff Booth.

Acting as a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the comedy-drama will center around Brad Pitt's Oscar-winning character in what looks to be a chaotically fun adventure. Interestingly though, despite directing the original film, Tarantino is only set to write The Adventures of Cliff Booth, with David Fincher taking on directing duties.

The last time we saw Tarantino write a movie he didn't direct was 1996's From Dusk till Dawn, meaning his next credit will be a first in 30 years. This means Quentin Tarantino's longest gap between movies will technically continue, as this is the first time he has gone seven years without directing — a streak that won't end anytime soon.

The Adventures Of Cliff Booth Is Quentin Tarantino's First Writer-Only Credit In 30 Years

Over the past few decades, we've become very used to seeing Tarantino behind the camera when it comes to the scripts he's written, so The Adventures of Cliff Booth will mark a 30-year first. Clearly, he trusts David Fincher to bring his vision to life in this sequel, but it will be strange not to see Tarantino's signature style.

Undoubtedly, he'll still have a big influence on what the final product looks like, but it's a significant moment in the filmmaker's career to step away from directing a movie he's written. While there is likely a variety of factors behind this decision, the biggest appears to be his commitment to his ten-movie rule.

Other respected directors have had more than ten great movies, but Quentin Tarantino is adamant about stopping once he reaches this milestone and only counts the ones he's directed, with Kill Bill 1 and 2 being seen as a single project in his eyes. Therefore, it's safe to assume he didn't want The Adventures of Cliff Booth to be his last outing.

As a result, we now get to see what a Tarantino-written project directed by someone else looks like in the 21st century, a prospect that is both nerve-racking yet exciting. Given Fincher has such a good track record, it seems like The Adventures of Cliff Booth is in safe hands, but only time will tell how it turns out.

Considering Brad Pitt is one of Quentin Tarainto's best collaborators, he'll know how to maintain the aspects that made Cliff Booth so popular, which should still make this feel like a proper sequel. However, this aspect alone marks yet another first, since Tarantino has directed his one and only sequel throughout his career so far.

The Adventures Of Cliff Booth Is Also The First Tarantino Sequel Not Directed By Tarantino Himself

Quentin Tarantino is hardly known for his sequels, but having directed Kill Bill: Volume 2, The Adventures of Cliff Booth officially becomes the first sequel written by him that he will not direct. Naturally, this puts plenty of pressure on Fincher, as he'll have a tough time matching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's tone and atmosphere, even with Tarantino's script.

The Kill Bill movies were also originally written as one long screenplay that Tarantino eventually split into two parts, meaning the sequel followed up seamlessly. In contrast, not only will The Adventures of Cliff Booth have a different director, but many Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actors will be missing in what is clearly a unique project.

In some ways, this makes it the perfect time for Tarantino to take a step back, as there's no big weight of expectation when it comes to the direction or presentation of the film. Fincher can put his own spin on the story to make it fit his own style, which will hopefully culminate in something special.

Tarantino wouldn't have given Fincher the keys to such an important project if he didn't feel the director was capable of perfecting The Adventures of Cliff Booth, making it one to look forward to. From Dusk till Dawn has already proved that the filmmaker doesn't have to direct to make a big impact, and 30 years later, history could repeat itself.

Even if it does end up feeling significantly different from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Adventures of Cliff Booth remains exciting since it is a first, meaning we're truly heading into the unknown. No doubt the movie will continue making noise up until its release, and likely thereafter, given both Fincher and Tarantino have near flawless resumes to protect.

As a result, The Adventures of Cliff Booth quietly feels like one of 2026's biggest releases, and the public response could be crucial in determining what Tarantino does next, and if we ever see the highly desired Kill Bill 3, be it from him or another director.