Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is getting a sequel, because of course it is. The film industry’s annual Nostalgia Harvest is in full swing, and what better way to cash in on nostalgia than to revisit a characters from a movie that’s only a few years old? The sequel, titled The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, will see Brad Pitt reprise his role as the lovable stuntman, and David Fincher will take over directing duties from Tarantino.
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The news that Tarantino is not directing the sequel is not entirely surprising, given his self-imposed limit of directing only ten feature films. It’s a relief, really, that he’s not stretching himself too thin by directing every single project that comes his way. I mean, who needs creative control when you have a perfectly good script and a willing director like Fincher? The fact that Fincher is on board to direct is a testament to the strength of the script, which was written by Tarantino. One can only assume that the script is so good that Fincher couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring it to life.
The film is set in 1977, which is convenient, since that means the production team can simply reuse all the old props and costumes from the first film. The new movie promises to be “a very different Hollywood” than the one we saw in the first film, which is a bold claim, considering that the first film was already a nostalgic ode to a bygone era. The cast includes Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Matt Groove, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis, and Karren Karagulian, because what’s a Tarantino film without a massive ensemble cast?
The Never-Ending Cycle of Sequels and Reboots
It’s worth noting that The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is not just a sequel, but also a testament to the enduring power of intellectual property. In an industry where original ideas are scarce, it’s no wonder that studios are clamoring to revive old franchises and characters. The Content Mines remain fully operational, churning out remake after remake, sequel after sequel, and reboot after reboot. It’s a never-ending cycle, and one that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Somewhere, an executive is nodding very seriously, convinced that they’ve stumbled upon a formula for success.
Netflix, which is distributing the film, has already confirmed the title and released a first glimpse of the title treatment, which features a pair of sunglasses in place of the “o”s in the title. Because what’s a Tarantino film without a bit of stylish flair? The film is scheduled to open in theaters on November 25, before premiering on Netflix on December 23. One can only assume that the marketing department has already declared the film’s trailer to be “the most anticipated event of the decade,” and that the merchandising opportunities have expanded faster than the screenplay.
The Enduring Legacy of Quentin Tarantino
Despite the fact that Tarantino is not directing the sequel, his influence is still clearly felt. The film’s title, with its hyphenated “mis-adventures,” is a nod to Tarantino’s signature style, which has been imitated but never replicated. It’s a style that has become synonymous with cool, and one that continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers. Whether or not The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth lives up to the standard set by Tarantino’s original film remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the film will be a commercial success, if only because it’s a Tarantino-related project.
As the film industry continues to mistake familiarity for originality, it’s comforting to know that there are still filmmakers like Tarantino who are willing to take risks and push boundaries. Even if The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is not a Tarantino-directed film, it’s still a testament to the enduring legacy of a true original. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll see a film that actually lives up to the standard set by Tarantino’s best work. But until then, we’ll just have to settle for more of the same old, same old. After all, as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And in Hollywood, if it ain’t broke, just reboot it and hope that the audiences don’t notice.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
