Summary
David Fincher’s new film starring Brad Pitt has an official title: The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, marking the return of the standout character from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Netflix has confirmed that Pitt returns as Cliff Booth in a story set in 1977, with Fincher directing from a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino. The film will first play globally in IMAX for an exclusive two-week run beginning November 25, 2026, before reaching Netflix on December 23.
The title is a genuine new development for an already known project because it clarifies Netflix’s positioning: not an unnamed spin-off, but another series of adventures involving Cliff Booth, created through two filmmakers with very different marks on modern American cinema.
The official title and release dates
The full name is The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth. “Further” treats the events of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as the beginning of the character’s journey, while “Mis-Adventures” suggests another unpredictable story rather than a conventional heroic continuation.
The IMAX release begins on November 25 and will last two weeks. The Netflix premiere is scheduled for December 23, 2026. This strategy creates a defined theatrical window before streaming and places the film in both the holiday and awards periods.
Cliff Booth returns to Hollywood in 1977
Cliff Booth was introduced in Tarantino’s film as a stuntman, driver and close associate of actor Rick Dalton. Brad Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the performance, combining calm, humour and a dark ambiguity that left important parts of his past unresolved.
The new story moves the character to 1977, eight years after the setting of the previous film. Hollywood has changed: the old studio era is even more distant, New Hollywood has matured and the industry is moving into the blockbuster period. Netflix has not yet disclosed a detailed synopsis or Cliff’s profession in this new period.
Tarantino writes, Fincher directs
The division of roles is unusual in itself. Tarantino, creator of the character and director of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, writes the screenplay but hands directing duties to David Fincher. The dialogue and underlying mythology therefore come from Tarantino, while visual rhythm and execution pass through Fincher’s method.
Fincher has a long relationship with Netflix and has already worked with Pitt on Se7en, Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The film renews one of his most important actor collaborations and gives Pitt a role originally formed under a different directing voice.
The confirmed cast
Alongside Brad Pitt, the film stars Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Matt Groove, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis and Karren Karagulian. Netflix has not described most of their roles, so it is not known which characters connect with Hollywood and which with Booth’s personal story.
Pitt is also producing with Ceán Chaffin. His dual position as star and producer signals closer involvement in the project, without changing Fincher’s final directing responsibility.
Fincher’s creative team
Cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, ASC, reunites with Fincher, as does production designer Donald Graham Burt. Kirk Baxter edits, Trish Summerville designs costumes, Ren Klyce handles sound design and Dave Macomber coordinates stunts.
The presence of so many regular collaborators points toward Fincher’s controlled visual and sonic approach. For a story returning to a reconstructed 1977 Los Angeles, cinematography, production design and costume will be as important as plot in creating a convincing period without copying Tarantino’s film.
Its relationship with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The film has not been presented as a direct Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2 with the whole original cast returning. It is a Cliff Booth story that may stand independently, even though the character, his past and his relationship with the industry come from the 2019 film.
Brad Pitt had already discussed returning to the role during a broader conversation about cinema and the possibilities for mid-budget filmmaking. The official title and dates now turn that reference into a clearly positioned release.
What we think
The title works because it does not pretend to be a complete sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It promises new episodes involving a character capable of standing alone, while the combination of Tarantino’s screenplay and Fincher’s direction is the central attraction. The major challenge will be preserving Cliff’s identity without the film becoming either a Tarantino imitation or a standard Fincher thriller.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official title?
The film is titled The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Who writes and directs?
Quentin Tarantino wrote the screenplay and David Fincher directs.
When will it be released?
A two-week exclusive IMAX run begins on November 25, 2026, followed by Netflix on December 23.
When is the story set?
The story takes place in 1977, eight years after the setting of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
