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Leonardo DiCaprio will not appear in the Once Upon a Time sequel
Leonardo DiCaprio has confirmed he will not return to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood universe. While early discussions took place, DiCaprio says he won't be part of the new project focused on Cliff Booth. He praised the choice of director for the follow-up and expressed excitement to see where the character's story goes next.
What the sequel centers on
The forthcoming film—often referred to as The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth or The Adventures of Cliff Booth—shifts the spotlight to Cliff Booth, the laconic stuntman and driver introduced in Tarantino's 2019 film. Cliff, memorably played by Brad Pitt in the original, is reportedly imagined in the new script as a production troubleshooter in Hollywood, a fixer of backstage problems and a salt-of-the-earth figure navigating the studio system several years after the events of the first movie.
Quentin Tarantino is credited with the screenplay for this sequel, but the directing reins have been handed over to David Fincher under his overall deal with Netflix. That handoff is noteworthy: Tarantino, normally both writer and director, is entrusting his screenplay to a director known for a colder, more meticulous visual style—creating an intriguing creative collision between Tarantino’s dialogue-driven, revisionist sensibilities and Fincher’s precision and darkness.
Industry sources reported a substantial budget—circa $200 million—suggesting Netflix is ready to pursue a high-profile production with major production values and wide reach. The release date remains unannounced.
Comparisons and context This project sits at the intersection of two current industry trends: legacy sequels that expand beloved cinematic worlds and the streamer's appetite for tentpole content helmed by A-list directors. Think of how David Fincher's Netflix collaborations (e.g., Mindhunter) contrast with Tarantino’s theatrical, auteur-driven work; merging those approaches could redefine what a legacy sequel can feel like.
Trivia and fan reaction Fans on social platforms reacted swiftly—debating whether Brad Pitt will reprise Cliff Booth and speculating how Fincher might reinterpret Tarantino’s tone. One behind-the-scenes note: Tarantino has long enjoyed writing spin-offs in his fictional Hollywood universe, making this sequel a natural extension of his storytelling impulses.
A light critical take: handing Tarantino’s script to a different director is rare and risky, but it could yield a fresh, darker chapter for Cliff Booth rather than a straightforward nostalgia piece.
Concluding note DiCaprio’s absence narrows the lead casting question but not the intrigue. With Tarantino’s script, Fincher’s direction, and a hefty reported budget, the sequel remains one of the most watched upcoming projects—both for fans curious about Cliff Booth’s fate and for cinephiles fascinated by this unusual creative partnership.
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