Netflix decided Super Bowl night wasn’t just for touchdowns. The streamer quietly stole some spotlight by dropping the first look at Brad Pitt’s return as Cliff Booth in The Adventures of Cliff Booth — a follow-up to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
And yes, the stuntman still looks effortlessly cool.
A Super Bowl Tease with Vintage Swagger
The short teaser leans fully into retro flair — smoky bars, film sets humming in the background, and a dirt-track derby car tearing through dust clouds. Pitt’s Cliff is seen icing his knee (a subtle reminder of the physical toll of the job) before casually slipping back into Hollywood chaos.
He crosses paths with Elizabeth Debicki and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, both dressed in glamorous, old-school Hollywood fashion. The vibe? Stylish, dangerous, and slightly unhinged — in the best way.
There’s also a cheeky censorship gag running through the teaser — blurred nudity, flashing guns, middle fingers, cigarette smoke — all edited in a playful, self-aware rhythm. And then comes the wink: Cliff placing an Oscar on his desk. A clever nod to Pitt’s Academy Award win for playing the character back in 2020.
From Tarantino’s World to Fincher’s Vision
Quentin Tarantino may have created Cliff Booth, but this time, he’s handing over the director’s chair to David Fincher. Tarantino wrote the script but chose to focus on developing his long-rumored tenth and final film, allowing Fincher to step in and shape the sequel.
That creative switch is interesting. Fincher’s meticulous, dark-edged storytelling — seen in Mindhunter, Mank and The Killer — brings a different flavor. Expect something moodier, sharper, maybe even more psychologically layered than Tarantino’s sun-soaked 1969 revisionist fairy tale.
The film is reportedly set in the 1970s, meaning we’re stepping into a new Hollywood era — post-Manson, post-counterculture peak, and right into the gritty transition phase of the industry.
Who’s In — and Who’s Not
One major change: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton is not expected to return. The original film famously reimagined the Manson murders, allowing Dalton and Booth to alter history in a bloody, cathartic twist.
This time, the spotlight stays squarely on Cliff.
Joining Pitt are:
- Scott Caan
- Carla Gugino
- Holt McCallany
- JB Tadena
Plus, Timothy Olyphant is confirmed to reprise his role as James Stacy from the original film.
Behind the camera, frequent Fincher collaborator Erik Messerschmidt handles cinematography, which likely means sleek visuals and precise framing. The film was shot on location in Los Angeles — keeping it rooted in authentic Hollywood texture.
Why This Spin-Off Matters
Cliff Booth was never just a sidekick. In many ways, he was the emotional backbone of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — loyal, mysterious, and possibly dangerous. Giving him a standalone story suggests Netflix sees franchise potential in Tarantino’s alternate-history universe.
It also marks another major collaboration between Fincher and Netflix, strengthening their long-standing creative partnership.
And let’s be honest — a 1970s Hollywood crime-tinged character study led by Brad Pitt? That’s not exactly a hard sell.
Final Words
This first look doesn’t reveal much plot, but it nails tone. Stylish. Slightly chaotic. Deeply nostalgic.
If Tarantino gave Cliff Booth myth, Fincher might give him psychology. Either way, Pitt stepping back into that denim jacket feels less like fan service and more like unfinished business.
Hollywood’s coolest stuntman isn’t done yet.
