David Fincher and Brad Pitt Team Up for ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Follow-Up

CinemaCon 2025 has delivered a bombshell announcement: David Fincher is set to direct a follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role as stuntman Cliff Booth. The film, reportedly being developed for Netflix, marks a fascinating collaboration between two legendary filmmakers—Fincher, known for his meticulous storytelling and dark psychological narratives, and Tarantino, the master of stylized violence and sharp dialogue. While Tarantino will be providing the script, Fincher will be the one bringing it to life—a combination that is bound to create something both unique and unpredictable.

A Meeting of Two Distinct Sensibilities

It will be interesting to see how the film unfolds when Fincher’s cold, calculated precision meets Tarantino’s witty, freewheeling storytelling. Tarantino’s dialogue-heavy scripts are known for their vibrant, larger-than-life characters, while Fincher’s approach leans into methodical pacing, psychological depth, and a flawless visual aesthetic. The result could be something unlike anything seen before—Tarantino’s world filtered through Fincher’s signature style.

While Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was steeped in nostalgia and the laid-back feel of 1969 Los Angeles, Fincher’s direction could potentially bring a darker, more suspenseful tone. Given his track record with films like Se7en and Zodiac, there’s speculation that this sequel may take a grittier approach to Booth’s story. The question is: how much of Tarantino’s original vision will remain intact under Fincher’s direction? Will we get Tarantino’s indulgent, meandering storytelling, or will Fincher tighten the narrative into something leaner and more suspenseful?

Brad Pitt Returns as Cliff Booth

Brad Pitt’s return to the role of Cliff Booth adds another exciting layer to the project. Pitt’s performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was one of the most celebrated aspects of the film, winning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Given the ambiguity surrounding Cliff Booth’s backstory—particularly the implications regarding his wife’s mysterious death—there’s plenty of material for Fincher to explore.

Tarantino has previously hinted at Booth’s murky past, suggesting a history of violence and a survivalist instinct. This could align perfectly with Fincher’s ability to craft deeply complex and morally ambiguous characters, much like he did with Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne and Zodiac’s Robert Graysmith.

Will Leonardo DiCaprio Return?

While Pitt’s return is confirmed, there’s still no word on whether Leonardo DiCaprio will reprise his role as Rick Dalton, the aging actor whose career struggles were central to the original film. Given Dalton’s character arc in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, there’s a possibility that this new installment could focus more on Booth’s life outside of his friendship with Dalton. However, if DiCaprio does return, it would be interesting to see how Fincher handles his performance, especially considering his history of drawing out some of the most nuanced performances in cinema (The Social Network, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).