Brad Pitt is back as Hollywood’s chillest stuntman — with David Fincher calling the shots this time.
Brad Pitt Reprises His Oscar-Winning Role
Brad Pitt returns as Cliff Booth, the laconic stuntman who stole the show (and an Academy Award) in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But this isn’t just more of the same. It’s the 70s, the days of disco. In The Adventures of Cliff Booth, Booth’s role in the Hollywood ecosystem is no longer in Rick Dalton’s shadow, but he’s still the guy who dent cars and kicks Bruce Lee’s ass.
Tarantino Writes, Fincher Directs
This is a rare team-up: Quentin Tarantino wrote the script, but David Fincher is directing. The two auteurs have never collaborated before, and it’s hard to imagine a more intriguing stylistic clash. Fincher, known for razor-sharp precision (Se7en, Zodiac, Gone Girl), takes the wheel on a Tarantino-penned world. It’s still unknown whether it’s a genre experiment or a straight-up noir, expect something controlled, violent, and darkly funny.
The Story: Booth, 1977, Hollywood Fixer
Set in 1977 Los Angeles, the story catches up with Booth nearly a decade after the events of Once Upon a Time. He’s now working as a Hollywood fixer — the guy who handles problems that shouldn’t make it to Page Six. The plot is still under wraps, but the tone sounds like a hard-boiled blend of insider gossip, old-school action, and Tarantino’s affection for washed-up men with good instincts and bad luck.
The Cast: Stacked and Stylish
So far, the supporting cast includes:
- Carla Gugino
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
- Elizabeth Debicki
- Scott Caan
No details yet on who’s playing what, but with that lineup, it’s safe to assume equal parts style, volatility, and glamour. Gugino’s recent work (The Fall of the House of Usher, Gerald’s Game) suggests she’s a perfect fit for a noir-inflected ensemble. Debicki and Abdul-Mateen bring prestige-drama credentials, while Caan adds a welcome note of throwback toughness.
Could Scott Caan Be Playing His Father, James Caan?
The casting of Scott Caan in The Adventures of Cliff Booth has sparked speculation among fans and industry observers. Given the film’s 1977 setting and its exploration of Hollywood’s inner workings, some have wondered whether Caan might portray a version of his own father, the late James Caan, who was a prominent actor during that era.
James Caan’s career was at a high point in the 1970s, with notable roles in films like The Godfather (1972) and Rollerball (1975). Portraying his father could offer Scott Caan a unique opportunity to pay tribute to his family’s cinematic legacy.
Title: Still a Work in Progress
The film’s been referred to both as The Adventures of Cliff Booth and The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth. Either way, Netflix is all in, and production is set to begin in July 2025 in Los Angeles, with a 2026 release date expected.
So Is This Tarantino’s Final Film?
No. Although he wrote the script, Tarantino is not directing, and The Adventures of Cliff Booth is not his much-rumored “final film.” That project — whatever and whenever it is — remains a mystery. This is a Tarantino adaptation like True Romance or Natural Born Killers, a rare case of a Tarantino world handled by another filmmaker with a very different sensibility.
Until cameras roll, that’s all we know. But one thing’s certain: Cliff Booth is still cool. And probably still dangerous.