With production starting on Netflix’s “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” fans are eagerly speculating at what to expect from the David Fincher-directed sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.”
Tarantino introduced audiences to Cliff Booth in 2019’s “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” where Brad Pitt turned in an Oscar-winning performance for his portrayal of the cool, collected and devilishly charming 1960s Hollywood stunt double. Tarantino later expanded upon the character in his 2021 novelization of the film.
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Though it is public knowledge that Tarantino penned the screenplay for the sequel and that Fincher is taking up the directorial reins, details concerning the storyline are still under wraps. Nevertheless, news regarding the film’s cast, crew, development and production offer reason for excitement.
Here’s what we know about “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” so far.
Who is in the movie?
It was confirmed early on that Brad Pitt would reprise his title role in “The Adventures of Cliff Booth.” Pitt has previously collaborated with Fincher to creatively fruitful ends in “Fight Club” and “Seven,” so “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” will mark a reunion for these two talents.
Outside of the titular role, the film’s cast includes Scott Caan, Elizabeth Debicki, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Carla Gugino, Holt McCallany, JB Tadena and Corey Fogelmanis. Conspicuously, none of these actors appeared in “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” and details regarding their characters remain secretive.
Where is the movie shooting?
Naturally, the “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” sequel is filming in Los Angeles. Specifically, the production has taken over a block in the city’s Highland Park neighborhood, centered around the historic Highland Theater.
As seen in on-location Instagram posts, production has transformed storefronts surrounding the theater to fit the film’s 1970s setting, equipped with dated electronic stores, boutiques, and hair salons. The full production is expected to take place in California, taking advantage of the state’s recently increased tax incentives while remaining true to the “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” universe.
What will the movie look like?
First images of Brad Pitt on the set of “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” show him donning the character’s signature blue jeans and short-sleeve yellow button up over a Snake River Canyon t-shirt. He still sports a flowing mop of blonde hair, but also sports a mustache, adding to the sequel’s 1970s feel.
Perhaps the best indicator of what “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” will look like comes from the announcement that Erik Messerschmidt will serve as the film’s director of photography. Messerschmidt is a frequent collaborator with Fincher, having lensed “The Killer” and “Mank” and winning an Academy Award for the latter. He also served as gaffer on Fincher’s “Gone Girl” and shot episodes of Netflix’s “Mindhunter.”
Messerschmidt’s eye will offer a change from “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” which was shot by Robert Richardson and nominated for Best Cinematography at the 92nd Academy Awards. Richardson brought the period piece to life with grandiosity, yet a fitting levity. Messerschmidt’s collaborations with Fincher lean more into an austere aesthetic, so the world of “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” might look a bit different.
Where will I be able to watch the movie?
Being a Netflix original film, “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” is likely to release directly on the streamer. It may play at some festivals or specialty screenings ahead of time, but given Netflix’s hesitancy to give its films wide theatrical releases (with the distinct exception of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming “The Chronicles of Narnia”), “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” might not get much time on the big screen.
“The Adventures of Cliff Booth” will be Fincher’s third film for Netflix. “Mank” debuted on the platform in 2020 and “The Killer” premiered in 2023. Fincher also served as executive producer, showrunner and director on the Netflix series “Mindhunter” in 2017 and 2019.
By contrast, Sony released “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” in theaters worldwide in 2019, grossing $377,426,903 at the global box office.
Who else is involved creatively?
In addition to serving as writer and star, respectively, Tarantino and Pitt are also producers on “The Adventures of Cliff Booth.” Joining them are “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” producer David Heyman as well as Ceán Chaffin and Stacy Sher. The film was developed at Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Panic Pictures.
When will the movie come out?
Given that production just started, “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” likely won’t wrap until sometime towards the end of the year. After that, it will enter post-production and likely find a place in Netflix’s 2026 release schedule. However, no official release date has been announced yet.
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