Everything We Know About Quentin Tarantino’s Canceled Film, The Movie Critic

Originally stating that his upcoming movie, initially thought to be the tenth or eleventh, would be his last film, Quentin Tarantino seems to have changed direction. In January 2025, he mentioned that whenever he starts a new project, it will take some time because he wants his children to grow up a bit more first. As of April 2024, reports from The Hollywood Reporter suggest that the project Tarantino was working on has been canceled, with no studio officially attached and no filming having occurred due to multiple rewrites. Throughout his career, Tarantino has expressed his desire for his last film to be grand and memorable, preferring to leave the industry before he becomes too old.

According to Tarantino, the film was set to enter a phase called “pre-pre-production” in June 2023. However, recent developments suggest that there’s a possibility it may not materialize at all. Despite receiving $20 million from the California Film Commission for filming in the state, as reported by THR, Tarantino hasn’t officially confirmed the project’s cancellation.

In the meantime, let’s delve into the swirling rumors surrounding The Movie Critic, including casting speculations featuring Brad Pitt, and explore what we currently understand about the movie’s plot if it were to have been made.

The titular Movie Critic worked at a “porno rag.”

Tarantino revealed to Deadline that the main character in his tenth film is modeled after a real person. As a teenager, one of Tarantino’s jobs involved managing a vending machine for adult magazines. Although the legality of this job is questionable, Tarantino fondly remembers the film critic who wrote for this unnamed magazine. He admired the critic for his reviews that were a mix of early Howard Stern’s style and what Travis Bickle might sound like as a film critic. The critic was quite cynical, with his reviews resembling a blend of Howard Stern’s humor and Travis Bickle’s grittiness. Despite being in his early to mid-30s, the critic wrote with the wisdom of someone twice his age. Unfortunately, he passed away in his late 30s due to complications related to alcoholism.

Tarantino was supposed to film in California.

According to Production Weekly’s listings, The Movie Critic (originally titled #10) is set to commence filming in Los Angeles this fall. Earlier reports from Variety in 2023 revealed that the production received a $20 million tax credit from California. Given Tarantino’s affinity for L.A., it’s no wonder he chose to shoot his final movie here, as he stated, “I began my directing career here, and it feels right to conclude it in the world cinema capital. The crews are exceptional, the locations are stunning, and we are delighted to be making #10 in Los Angeles.” However, any potential collaboration between Pitt and Tarantino would likely delay filming until late this year or early 2025 due to Pitt’s prior obligations with a Formula 1 racing movie.

According to the California Film Commission, which provided the $20 million tax credit, they have been in contact with a representative from Quentin Tarantino as recently as mid-April, and no official communication has been received about withdrawing or pulling out of the project. A source close to the situation stated this.

Tarantino couldn’t go the Brad-Leo route for the lead.

Quentin Tarantino expressed his intention to keep the character somewhat true to the real-life movie critic’s age, making it unlikely for established actors like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio to be cast due to their advanced age compared to the character. In an interview at Cannes, he hinted that the role would likely go to an actor around 35 years old, marking a departure from his usual leading men. He also mentioned that he prefers not to cast a British actor for this role, but has not revealed further details. Speculation suggests Paul Walter Hauser as a potential candidate, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Brad Pitt could have been involved in some capacity, though.

The grapevine in Tinseltown hinted at some colorful news that would leave any movie buff blushing. Specifically, there were whispers that Brad Pitt could potentially feature in “The Movie Critic”. In February 2024, insiders told “The Hollywood Reporter” that Tarantino’s collaborator was considering a part, but it remained uncertain if a signed contract for this role ever existed. Given his age, one might wonder if Pitt would fit the bill for a 35-year-old character. However, it seems he wouldn’t be playing an editor as initially speculated. Instead, according to “The Hollywood Reporter”, Pitt was set to transform “The Movie Critic” into a spinoff of sorts of “Once Upon a Time” by reprising his role as stuntman Cliff Booth.

But Tarantino nixed the pic about flix.

It turns out that Quentin Tarantino has decided to scrap his original plans for his tenth and final film, which was initially going to be titled “The Movie Critic”. According to recent reports by Deadline on April 17 and The Hollywood Reporter this week, Tarantino had been considering two main concepts during rewrites. One idea involved creating a farewell meta-verse where characters from his previous films would make appearances in a “movie within a movie” format, either as themselves or fictionalized versions of the actors portraying them. The other concept included a movie theater setting, where characters could interact with a young Tarantino, who actually did work as an usher at a porn theater when he was 16 years old.

Essentially, it’s reported that Tarantino has shifted his enthusiasm towards other film concepts. Originally linked to The Movie Critic, Sony Pictures is now considering collaborating with Tarantino for his next project instead. Given that he aims to create a series of ten films, this upcoming one needs to be exceptional. Alternatively, he might continue making movies until he tires of it. For now, Tarantino has some Los Angeles theaters that require his focus.

He’s waiting on his son to grow up

On January 27, 2025, during an interview at Sundance by Elvis Mitchell, Tarantino shared that he’s in no rush to start his next movie because he wants his son to remember him working on it. He expressed, “The thought of embarking on a journey when they’re too young to understand it doesn’t appeal to me.” Instead, he plans not to work on any future film until his son is at least 6 years old. This way, he can comprehend what’s happening, be present, and it will become a cherished memory for him throughout his life. At the moment, his son is 5, but considering his words, we wouldn’t be shocked if he decided to involve his daughter in the memory as well, which means waiting another three and a half years for her to turn 6. In the interim, Tarantino has chosen to focus on writing a play.

2025-01-28 20:54