David Fincher Directs Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Sequel

Tarantino originally drafted the screenplay for Cliff Booth and handed it to David Fincher after Tarantino reportedly got cold feet about pursuing The Movie Critic, explaining the Fincher collaboration as a replacement project.
Production has progressed from six months of shooting wrapped in January 2026 to eight months in post-production, signaling a notably lengthy post‑production phase for the sequel.
Industry chatter suggested a budget around $200 million and that early edits were not testing well, indicating possible post-production challenges despite the high-profile project.
Erik Messerschmidt is not shooting the reshoots; Fincher has brought back his long-time DP Jeff Cronenweth for those additional days because Messerschmidt is committed to Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II.
Netflix’s Tudum release confirms a high-profile crew lineup for Cliff Booth, including DP Erik Messerschmidt, production designer Donald Graham Burt, editor Kirk Baxter, costume designer Trish Summerville, sound designer Ren Klyce, and stunt coordinator Dave Macomber.
Netflix is releasing The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, a David Fincher-directed sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with a two-week IMAX run starting November 25 before hitting the streaming platform on December 23. Brad Pitt returns as stuntman Cliff Booth in the 1977 Hollywood-set story, with a screenplay penned by Quentin Tarantino.
The film features a cast including Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, with production wrapping in January 2026 followed by an extended eight-month post-production phase. Fincher has brought back longtime cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth for recent reshoots after Erik Messerschmidt moved to other commitments.
Tarantino originally drafted the Cliff Booth screenplay but stepped back from directing it himself. He handed the project to David Fincher as an alternative to The Movie Critic, his planned final film. This marks a rare collaboration between the two acclaimed directors on a Hollywood story.
The film wrapped principal photography in January 2026 but entered an unusually long post-production phase spanning eight months. Industry sources suggested early edits tested poorly, prompting reshoots and crew changes. The extended timeline signals potential challenges despite the project's $200 million budget and high-profile creative team.
Fincher swapped cinematographers for the reshoots, bringing Jeff Cronenweth back to shoot additional scenes. Erik Messerschmidt, the original DP, is unavailable due to his commitment to Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II. The creative team also includes production designer Donald Graham Burt, editor Kirk Baxter, and costume designer Trish Summerville.
Netflix is giving The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth a theatrical showcase with a two-week IMAX release. The film arrives in IMAX theaters on November 25 before transitioning to Netflix on December 23. This hybrid strategy balances cinema spectacle with the platform's streaming reach.
Set in 1977 Hollywood, the sequel follows stuntman Cliff Booth after the events of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Brad Pitt reprises his role opposite a supporting cast that includes Peter Weller and potential additions like Timothée Olyphant. Brad Pitt and Ceán Chaffin serve as producers on the project alongside Fincher.
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