Quentin Tarantino is stepping back into the sun-drenched cinematic universe of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood for a special retrospective conversation and screening at AFI Fest, revisiting his 2019 directorial feature.
Tarantino is set to take the stage on Friday, October 23, at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood—the very venue that hosted the film’s star-studded U.S. premiere back in July 2019.
Set against the volatile backdrop of 1969 Los Angeles, the original film famously paired Leonardo DiCaprio as fading television star Rick Dalton with Brad Pitt as his loyal stunt double, Cliff Booth, alongside Margot Robbie, chronicling their struggle to navigate a rapidly shifting industry at the close of the decade.
Tarantino’s upcoming appearance carries added weight as the industry braces for the November 25 Netflix debut of The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth. Directed by David Fincher, the project brings Brad Pitt back to the iconic role he originated under Tarantino’s direction.
Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO, noted that the festival event aims to celebrate the launchpad of Booth’s expanding universe while fans eagerly await the upcoming feature, praising Tarantino as one of contemporary cinema’s master storytellers.
The character’s expansion extends beyond the screen, with Tarantino preparing to release The Adventures of Cliff Booth via Harper in December, adding a literary chapter to the filmmaker’s sprawling fictional mythos.
In a separate career pivot, Tarantino is gearing up for his West End theatrical debut in London with The Popinjay Cavalier.
The play is slated for a Phoenix Theatre run beginning March 18, 2027, following previews starting February 23, with bookings open through June 13.
Co-produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions, the production stars Sacha Baron Cohen in the lead role, marking another bold chapter in Tarantino’s eclectic multi-hyphenate career spanning cinema, literature, and the stage.
