Fincher Trims Tarantino's 230-Page Cliff Booth Script to 2 Hours 20 Minutes

Key points

• Fincher reduced Tarantino's initial 230-page draft by 60 pages, creating a film that runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• The film is set in 1977, eight years after the events of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' and follows Cliff Booth as a Hollywood fixer.
• Tarantino describes the new script as having the 'flavor of an Elmore Leonard paperback,' contrasting it with the 'hangout movie' nature of the 2019 original.
• Brad Pitt, who won an Oscar for the role in 2020, helped bring Fincher onto the project after Tarantino decided not to direct the sequel himself.
• The film features a two-week exclusive IMAX run starting November 25, followed by a Netflix release on December 23.

Background

This project follows the 2019 hit 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' which received 10 Oscar nominations. Recent archive coverage notes that the film's first trailer, released in September 2026, sparked audience backlash over its dark cinematography, a stark contrast to the bright aesthetic of the original. Tarantino is also publishing a novel adaptation titled 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth' on December 8.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter highlight the significant editorial changes Fincher made to Tarantino's script, noting the removal of 60 pages. While Fincher emphasized the character dynamics and 'bonfire' atmosphere, Tarantino, in an interview with Empire, stressed the plot-driven, crime-fiction elements inspired by Elmore Leonard. The Hollywood Reporter notes the boldness of cutting over a quarter of a Tarantino script, contrasting it with his past reactions to other directors' adaptations.

Why it matters

The collaboration between Tarantino and Fincher represents a significant shift in the tone of the 'Cliff Booth' franchise, moving from a character study to a crime narrative. The film's release strategy, combining an IMAX exclusive with a Netflix premiere, signals a hybrid distribution model for major studio films.

What to watch

The film will begin its two-week global IMAX run on November 25, 2026, before debuting on Netflix on December 23. Tarantino's novel adaptation is scheduled for release on December 8.