Get ready for the next chapter in the beloved saga of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” We’ve got the latest scoop on a long-awaited follow-up to the 2019 Quentin Tarantino classic, which promises to deliver even more of the film’s signature blend of nostalgia, style, and, of course, bloody violence.
Sources close to the project confirm that a new script is in the works, penned by the master of Tarantino’s co-writer, who has long since become a respected collaborator with the director. The talented and reclusive duo is rumored to have been working on a Tarantino script for years, and now, it seems, they’ve finally found the perfect candidate for the starring role: none other than the incomparable Brad Pitt.
Brad Pitt and David Fincher Team Up for Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Follow-Up
Tarantino owns the characters in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, including Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton, a unique aspect of his deal with Sony. He also has an ownership stake in the movie, which increases every year for 20 years, when the movie reverts to him.
The follow-up project has Brad Pitt and possibly Leonardo DiCaprio circling to reprise their roles. David Fincher, not Tarantino, is set to direct the feature project, which is being assembled at Netflix. The script was written by Tarantino, and it’s expected to go before cameras by late summer.
The project is not a sequel to Once Upon a Time but a “derivative” that takes inspiration from it. The Playlist first reported on the film. Tarantino has a unique deal in which he owns the characters in that movie (and owns characters in other movies as well) while Sony currently retains Once Upon a Time. An insider noted that was the reason the Fincher project is not considered a sequel or prequel other than it uses Booth (and who knows who else?) as a character.
John Wick Spinoff Starring Donnie Yen
The John Wick spinoff starring action legend Donnie Yen has found its director: action legend Donnie Yen. Yen was already starring in the Lionsgate feature, reprising his role of the formidable blind assassin known as Caine. Now, the action star and filmmaker known for Hong Kong martial arts movies such as the Ip Man series, will step behind the camera to direct the project, the studio announced at its presentation at Cinemacon Tuesday.
The studio also said that Mattson Tomlin, writer of the upcoming The Batman Part II and Netflix’s adaptation of the Keanu Reeves-created comic book BRZRKR, has joined to write the project. The previous draft of the screenplay for the spinoff was written by Robert Askins. Lionsgate is hoping to begin production later this year.
Producing the feature are Wick franchise producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road as well as Chad Stahelski, the director of the Wick films, via his 87Eleven Entertainment banner. In addition to starring and directing, Yen will serve as an executive producer on the project.
“From the moment Chad and Donnie pitched the idea of a Donnie Yen-style action film in the mode of John Wick, I was all in,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson. “Donnie is not only an incredible, charismatic star, but a smart, cinematic director who knows how to deliver massively entertaining action for a global audience. We’re thrilled that he’s in the director’s chair to tell Caine’s story.”
Plot Details
One of the goals for the new feature will be to have action sequences that are stylistically modeled on the uniquely designed movies that Yen helped make into hits. Yen aims to create action sequences that are stylistically modeled on his own Hong Kong martial arts movies.
Plot details for the spinoff are being kept behind the glasses, but it will continue the story of the formidable blind assassin who was forced against his will to kill Wick. Now freed from his obligations to the crime lord group known as the High Table, Caine will face new challenges.
Potential Impact
The John Wick franchise has set a high standard for action filmmaking, and Yen’s involvement could elevate the franchise further. The Caine feature will be the second Wick spinoff. The first is Ballerina, featuring Ana de Armas as an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma, the crime group whose name translates to the Russian Gypsies. The movie opens June 6.
Yen is repped by Independent Artist Group, Yorn Levine, and Cissy Wang at Bullet Films. Tomlin is repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, SSML and Goodman, Genow.
Conclusion
The recent announcement of a “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” follow-up, starring Brad Pitt and directed by David Fincher, with a script penned by Quentin Tarantino, sends shockwaves through the film industry. The key takeaways from this development are that Tarantino is revisiting a successful franchise, Pitt is reuniting with his “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” collaborators, and Fincher is bringing his unique visual style to the project. The significance of this news lies in its potential to reignite the creative spark between Tarantino, Pitt, and Fincher, resulting in a film that could showcase their combined talents in a thrilling and innovative way.
The implications of this follow-up are far-reaching, as it sets a new precedent for Hollywood’s approach to sequels and franchise filmmaking. With Tarantino’s penchant for non-linear storytelling and Fincher’s mastery of atmospheric tension, this film has the potential to push the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking techniques. Moreover, Pitt’s involvement ensures that the film will be anchored by a strong, charismatic performance. As we look to the future, this project has the potential to shape the cinematic landscape, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and cementing the legacies of its talented creatives.