Quentin Tarantino’s Next Project and a Possible Retirement
The year 2019 marked the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a film that ignited ongoing conversations about his plans for retirement. The acclaimed director behind Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Inglourious Basterds is reportedly at work on a new feature titled The Movie Critic. Intent on delivering one final cinematic statement, Tarantino is said to have written the script and is eyeing a fall start for filming. Specifics of the plot remain under wraps, but sources indicate the story unfolds in late 1970s Los Angeles and centers on a female lead.
Industry chatter suggests the project may revolve around one of history’s most influential film critics, Pauline Kael, who passed away in 2001. Kael was not only a critic but also an essayist and novelist. Her reputation for sharp, sometimes controversial opinions and her clashes with editors and filmmakers raised her profile within the industry. In the late 1970s, she consulted for Paramount, a detail that adds texture to the possible narrative direction of The Movie Critic.
As of now, there is no formal confirmation of The Movie Critic from Tarantino’s team. However, insiders indicate the project could surface to studios or buyers later in the week, with Sony being a likely partner given Tarantino’s close ties to Sony Pictures and its leadership. Sony previously released Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a collaboration that contributed to notable recognition for its cast, including Brad Pitt in the Best Supporting Actor category.
The filmmaker has earned two Academy Awards for his screenplays with Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained. He touched on his future plans in a candid discussion with a major network last year, where he spoke about the possibility of retirement after completing his tenth feature. He described a long career in which he has directed for decades and suggested that the time could come to conclude the show. He spoke about a desire to remain connected to the reality of contemporary cinema and to avoid drifting away from the evolving landscape of film and storytelling.
In discussing his career trajectory, Tarantino emphasized a wish to balance creative impulse with the realities of the industry. He acknowledged a reluctance to continue solely for the sake of appearances and stressed the importance of staying engaged with audiences and the evolving art form. The conversation painted a portrait of a filmmaker who values artistic honesty and personal relevance as much as legacy, hinting that The Movie Critic might be the kind of project that defines a late chapter rather than a mere continuation of a long career.