Quentin Tarantino is bringing back one of his most memorable characters, with Cliff Booth set to return in a new novel based on his ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ world, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Tarantino will write and release ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’, published by Harper, on 8 December 2026. The novel is set in Hollywood in 1977, several years after the events of the 2019 film.
Harper’s synopsis describes Booth as a war hero, stuntman, bartender and cinema projectionist who occasionally takes on “clandestine services” for his friends.
The book arrives as another Cliff Booth story is also moving towards the screen. The feature follow-up to ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ was announced last month under the title ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’.
David Fincher is directing the film, with Brad Pitt returning as Booth. Tarantino is writing the screenplay, while Pitt and Ceán Chaffin are producing. The original 2019 film, written and directed by Tarantino, also starred Leonardo DiCaprio.
Pitt won his first acting Oscar for playing Booth in the original film in 2020.
Tarantino previously explained why he chose not to direct the follow-up. Speaking on the Church of Tarantino podcast last year, he said he loved the script but did not want his final directorial project to be a sequel.
“I love this script, but I’m still walking down the same ground I’ve already walked. It just kind of unenthused me,” Tarantino said.
The new film will also feature Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Matt Groove, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis and Karren Karagulian.
Set in 1977, eight years after the first film, the story will follow Booth as he faces a very different Hollywood.
Fincher’s longtime collaborators are also joining the production, including cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, production designer Donald Graham Burt and editor Kirk Baxter. Laray Mayfield is handling casting, Trish Summerville is designing the costumes, Ren Klyce is the sound designer and Dave Macomber is the stunt coordinator.
‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’ will receive a two-week global IMAX run from 25 November before beginning its Netflix streaming release on 23 December.
Meanwhile, Tarantino’s ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’ will hit bookshelves on 8 December 2026, giving fans another chance to follow the character beyond the big screen.
