Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher sat across from each other in a dimly lit studio, the air thick with the scent of old paper and anticipation. The two directors, known for their distinct styles, were now collaborating on a new chapter in the life of Cliff Booth, the character who once changed the course of history in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The new film, The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth, promises a different kind of story, one set in 1977 and driven by the collision of characters in a Hollywood on the cusp of transformation.
A Crime Story with a Paperback Feel
Tarantino described the film as having the flavor of an Elmore Leonard paperback, a crime story with a distinct vibe. “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood was a hangout movie, but this one is different,” he said. “This script was very different. It had the flavor of an Elmore Leonard paperback: a crime-story paperback feel.” The contrast is clear. The first film was a slow-burn, a hangout in a sun-drenched Los Angeles, but the new one is more about the momentum of events and the people caught in them.
Fincher, who directed the film, agreed. “I liked the idea that it’s a story around a bonfire,” he said. “It wasn’t about the plot as much as it was about how the participants collided with one another in the back alleys of Hollywood in 1977.” The director had to cut 60 pages from Tarantino’s original 230-page script to fit the film into a 2-hour and 20-minute runtime. “It was essentially two movies,” Fincher said. “Somewhere in there was the Venn diagram of what Brad wanted to do, what I want to do, what Quentin wanted to do.”
A New Chapter for Cliff Booth
Brad Pitt returns as Cliff Booth, now a fixer in a Hollywood that no longer needs a hippie-slaying stuntman. The film follows him as he navigates the murky waters of 1977, solving problems for the powerful and the not-so-good. Elizabeth Debicki joins the cast as Karen Crosby, a talent agent who calls on Cliff to help with a client’s troubles. The film will have a two-week exclusive run in IMAX theaters starting November 25 before debuting on Netflix on December 23.
The film’s release comes amid some tension for Fincher, who recently ended his long-standing relationship with Netflix. The decision reportedly stemmed from disagreements over budget and creative control with film chairman Dan Lin. Despite the challenges, Fincher’s involvement with The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth marks a new chapter for both him and the character who has become a fixture in Tarantino’s cinematic universe.
Production Conflicts and Fincher’s Departure
David Fincher’s collaboration with Netflix on the film was marked by significant friction. According to a Page Six Hollywood report, the director clashed with Netflix film chairman Dan Lin over budgetary and creative restrictions. Fincher reportedly grew frustrated with Lin’s cost-conscious approach, a stark contrast to the tenure of former film chief Scott Stuber, who emphasized expensive, talent-friendly relationships. The tension escalated when Fincher undertook substantial additional photography, including the reconstruction of major sets and the return of longtime collaborator Jeff Cronenweth as cinematographer.
These disagreements contributed to Fincher’s decision to end his longstanding relationship with the streamer. He declined to renew his exclusive deal, which expires in 2027, citing exhaustion and a desire for a break rather than another multi-year commitment. Sources indicate that Fincher had no immediate projects lined up and that various developments from his Netflix tenure, including an American version of “Squid Game,” are effectively dead. This split represents a major shift for a filmmaker who had produced “Mank,” “The Killer,” and “Mindhunter” for the platform.
Sources
- Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher team up to talk their 'crime-story' Cliff Booth movie (Exclusive)
- David Fincher Says He Cut 60 Pages from Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Cliff Booth’ Script
- David Fincher Walked Away From Netflix After Clashing With Dan Lin Over ‘Cliff Booth’ [Report]
Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (CC BY-SA 2.0)
