David Fincher’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Follow-Up Will See Brad Pitt Return as Cliff Booth in a Connected Story Set 8 Years Later

Finally, the highly anticipated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel is officially happening at Netflix. David Fincher will direct the film, with Quentin Tarantino returning to write the script. The sequel, being produced under Fincher’s first-look deal with Netflix, marks a shift from the original’s theatrical release (via Sony Pictures) to streaming.

Speaking on The Big Picture podcast, Sean Fennessey — a friend of Quentin Tarantino — said he asked his sources and confirmed that “it seems like this movie is actually happening.”

Fennessey said, “It definitely seems like this movie is happening. Here’s what I can say: this probably shouldn’t be thought of as a sequel. It should be considered more of a follow-up — something that’s connected to, but not the same as, the original. The example that was cited to me was this: think about how The Big Sleep, the Raymond Chandler adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart, exists in the same world as Farewell, My Lovely, the 1975 Robert Mitchum movie. Different actor, different directors, different point in the storyline. They’re different films — not really sequels — but more like the further adventures of [Cliff].

“The only other important information I’ve learned, which I believe is confirmed, is that the movie takes place in 1977, which is roughly eight years after Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood — so it’s a different time in Cliff’s life.”

The film hasn’t been titled yet, but according to insiders, Netflix has paid over $20 million for Tarantino’s screenplay. Although Tarantino wrote the script, he chose not to direct it. Brad Pitt liked it so much that he pitched it to David Fincher. Filming is scheduled to begin in California this July.

It is not yet confirmed whether Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Rick Dalton, will return in the sequel. As of now, Netflix has not made any comments regarding DiCaprio’s involvement in the film.

The release date for the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel is yet to be announced on Netflix.

Source: The Big Picture