THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH (2026)

Quentin Tarantino surprised fans at AFI Fest by debuting the first 17 minutes of The Further Mis‑Adventures of Cliff Booth, a project he says keeps him busy as he ages into “a man of letters.” The director’s enthusiasm for the Brad Pitt‑originated character was unmistakable, describing Booth as the kind of “paperback hero” he could see hopping from one adventure to the next. During the screening, Tarantino reflected on the buzz surrounding the new material, recalling a review that called the world he’s built for Booth “the first world Quentin Tarantino has ever created that he would like to live in.” He noted that while audiences don’t need to know every detail, he finds comfort in knowing the full mythology himself. Looking ahead, the filmmaker hinted that his investment isn’t limited to the screen. He envisions Booth headlining a series of novels in the vein of Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan or Donald E. Westlake’s Parker, cementing the character’s place in a broader literary landscape. In his own words, he has “nothing to do but just invest in this mythology,” a promise that suggests more stories—and perhaps more surprises—are on the horizon.

Last night at the 40th‑annual AFI Fest, Quentin Tarantino turned a routine post‑screening Q&A into a cinephile’s dream. After fielding a question about his upcoming holiday release, he flicked the lights off and premiered the opening 17 minutes of The Further Mis‑Adventures of Cliff Booth, giving the packed Chinese Theatre audience an exclusive first look. The script, penned by Tarantino himself, is being helmed by longtime Brad Pitt collaborator David Fincher. Early footage reveals a gritty, novel‑inspired crime picture steeped in the sensibilities of Elmore Leonard and Raymond Chandler, presenting a markedly darker, almost sociopathic version of the beloved stuntman we met in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. Set in June 1977, Booth now works as a projectionist at the New Beverly Cinema—a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to Tarantino’s own ownership of the theater—while moonlighting as a shady bag‑man and fixer. The teaser also drops a glimpse of “Soul Brothers Die Hard,” a blaxploitation film‑within‑the‑film starring Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II, and hints at a fraught father‑son dynamic with Peter Weller playing Booth’s pawn‑shop proprietor dad. Period‑accurate production design and pop‑culture Easter eggs promise the same nostalgic immersion that made the 1960s setting of the original film a hit. Among the supporting talent, Austin Butler, Mikey Madison and Sydney Sweeney turn up, but Tarantino saved his most emotional casting anecdote for the Q&A: Burt Reynolds had been slated to play George Spahn, rehearsed the script, and even befriended the director before his untimely death halted the collaboration.

The Further Mis‑Adventures of Cliff Booth lands in cinemas on November 25, 2026, joining a crowded November slate that includes everything from Godzilla to a new Hunger Games prequel. Distributed by Netflix, the film brings back Pitt’s laid‑back stuntman from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, promising fans a fresh, high‑octane adventure as the calendar turns toward winter. Directed by David Fincher, the movie pushes Booth into a darker Hollywood underworld where murder, blackmail, theft and extortion swirl around the glitz. Pitt dons his signature yellow shirt and retro sunglasses, delivering a performance that feels both familiar and amplified by Fincher’s crisp, tension‑laden style. The trailer hints at a blend of gritty crime drama and the breezy, sun‑drenched vibe that made the original character so memorable. Beyond the plot, the film is billed as the perfect antidote to the season’s chill—a fun, sun‑soaked ride that lets audiences escape the cold while Pitt gets back to work in classic Hollywood swagger. With its mix of nostalgia, star power and Fincher’s meticulous direction, the sequel aims to keep the winter blues at bay and give stunt‑loving fans a reason to flock to the big screen.