Why Was Quentin Tarantino's The Movie Critic Canceled?

Quentin Tarantino was shuffling closer and closer to completing his proposed 10-project filmography. The Movie Critic, which Tarantino previously announced would be his last project in the director’s chair, was set to release in 2025. The story was believed to be inspired by real-life film critic Pauline Kael (a critic for The New Yorker between 1968 and 1991). However, Tarantino denies this, stating it was based on a real critic who once wrote reviews for an adult magazine. Rumors were frequently building as Tarantino was going through the writing process. That is until the project was unexpectedly dropped, shocking the director’s devout fan base.

It was announced in April that Tarantino had canceled The Movie Critic and would turn his attention elsewhere for his grand finale. While fans are left waiting and wondering what the auteur’s final movie will be, many are still confused about what actually happened to The Movie Critic, as reports and rumors were being flung across every corner of the internet.

The Movie Critic Underwent Obsessive Rewrites

While Tarantino hasn’t revealed any details about his next project or the reason for The Movie Critic‘s cancelation, a recent report from The Hollywood Reporter has given some insight into the decision and revealed what could have happened in the film. The most pressing issue facing The Movie Critic‘s pre-production was a ‘flurry of rewrites,’ which reportedly turned the movie into an unofficial ‘spinoff of his ninth film, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.

The report featured comments and quotes from various sources attached to the project, as well as from people close to Tarantino. One unnamed source said, “I don’t recall him rewriting so much and pushing a start date once he had a movie in mind.” The long-awaited film was set to begin filming later this year, but this has now been canceled indefinitely.

The Movie Critic‘s 2025 release date already would have produced one of the longest gaps between Tarantino releasing a new movie, with Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood hitting theaters five years ago in 2019. This gap will now expand exponentially. The closest thing fans have to a direct comment from Tarantino is a suggestion from those close to the director, who stated he had simply ‘grown more excited by other ideas.’

As shocked as his fans are by The Movie Critic‘s cancelation, it is far from the first time the director has shelved a greenlit project. Over his 30+ years as a filmmaker, Tarantino has been attached to and announced numerous movies that were never seen through to fruition. In the ’90s, he was reportedly attached to several superhero projects, including live-action Green Lantern and Iron Man movies.

Tarantino had also previously discussed wanting to make a third installment in the Kill Bill franchise, telling Entertainment Weekly in 2004 that “initially I was thinking this would be my Dollars Trilogy. I was going to do a new one every ten years.” More recently, in 2017, Tarantino was attached to direct the next entry in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek cinematic universe after the director pitched an idea to Paramount Pictures. However, two years later, it was confirmed that Tarantino had left the project.

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It is likely that Tarantino will directly address The Movie Critic‘s cancelation in the years to come, especially after his 10th film is locked in for production. Until that time, all Tarantino fans can do is sit and daydream about what would have (possibly) been the end to an outstanding filmography.

THR’s report also gave detailed insight into potential plot points and casting news for The Movie Critic. As previously mentioned, the altered script was veering closer and closer to resembling Tarantino’s 2019 love letter to the movie industry, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Brad Pitt, a Tarantino regular, was already attached to star in The Movie Critic, although it was not confirmed if he would be reprising his Once Upon a Time role of Cliff Booth or if he would portray a new character.

Also outlined in the report were several ideas and concepts that Tarantino was ‘toying with’ for his final movie – which came from sources close to the project. The most intriguing premise is that Tarantino’s final movie would be a meta sendoff to the director, featuring a whole host of characters from the director’s past work. This idea is aided by the litany of casting rumors that suggest that John Travolta, Jamie Foxx, and Margot Robbie had all conversed with Tarantino about appearing in The Movie Critic, although nothing was confirmed.

Why Quentin Tarantino Abandoning The Movie Critic Is Actually Good News

If Quentin Tarantino is only going to direct 10 movies, then his final one needs to be one of his best, not a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Another exciting premise was that The Movie Critic would finally pair Tarantino with Tom Cruise, a partnership which had been teased and rumored for years. Tarantino fans will undoubtedly know that Cruise was originally eyed to play Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time… However, scheduling conflicts forced Cruise to drop out, and the role later went to Brad Pitt, who returned for his second partnership with the director following Inglourious Basterds.

News surrounding Tarantino’s final project has currently gone radio silent. It will likely be some time before any official announcement is made about the director’s latest idea for his 10th film. Tarantino’s latest film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is streaming now on Hulu.