Brad Pitt Is Back: Cliff Booth Returns in David Fincher’s Dark New Hollywood Thriller

Image: Collected from Empire

Brad Pitt is officially reprising his Oscar-winning role as Cliff Booth in The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. Directed by David Fincher and written by Tarantino, the film will premiere exclusively in IMAX theaters on November 25 before arriving on Netflix on December 23.

A New Era for Cliff Booth

The sequel jumps forward to 1977, eight years after the events of Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. Booth, once the easygoing stunt double for Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton, has moved into a more shadowy line of work as a Hollywood fixer—handling problems for powerful industry figures.

Rather than simply revisiting the sun-soaked, nostalgic Los Angeles of the original film, the new story presents a “very different Hollywood,” according to Netflix. The setting promises a darker, more dangerous version of Tinseltown, fitting Fincher’s reputation for tense, atmospheric filmmaking.

Tarantino’s Story, Fincher’s Vision

Quentin Tarantino wrote the screenplay but handed directing duties to David Fincher, creating an unusual pairing of two of Hollywood’s most distinctive filmmakers. Tarantino said his enduring affection for Booth—and Pitt’s performance—motivated him to return to the character.

Pitt originally won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Booth at the 2020 Oscars. His return puts the character at the center of the story for the first time, rather than positioning him alongside DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton.

First Footage Draws Strong Reactions

Tarantino unveiled the first 17 minutes of the film at AFI Fest 2026 at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre, giving audiences an early look at Pitt’s return. The screening closed the festival with an enthusiastic response from attendees.

The official trailer, released on September 21, also generated significant online discussion. While many fans celebrated Pitt’s comeback, some criticized the footage’s dark lighting and color grading, arguing that it looked overly murky.

Star-Studded Supporting Cast

The film features Elizabeth Debicki as talent agent Karen Crosby, who approaches Booth on behalf of television star Charlie Peters, played by Scott Caan. The cast also includes Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Peter Weller.

With Pitt returning to one of his most acclaimed roles, Fincher directing, and Tarantino providing the script, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is shaping up to be one of the year’s most closely watched releases. Its two-week IMAX run begins November 25, followed by its global Netflix debut on December 23.