Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino has confirmed that work on the script for his tenth feature film is complete. According to his long-standing intention, this movie is set to be the final one of his directorial career. However, as revealed in his recent appearance on the British TV show The Graham Norton Show, the director is in no rush to jump straight into filming. Instead, he intends to take a break from cinema and try his hand at a new creative format — theater. This was reported by Variety, citing Tarantino's own words during his appearance on the program.
Script ready, but the director chooses theater
«I wrote a script that I really, really like, but first I want to put on a play and figure out who I am right now. After that, I'll go back to my family, live a normal life for a bit, and only then decide what to do next,> Tarantino said on The Graham Norton Show. Thus, despite the completed script, the production timeline for the tenth film remains uncertain. The director emphasizes that he wants to shift his focus and rethink his creative journey before returning to the set.
«The Popinjay Cavalier»: swashbuckling adventure comedy with Sacha Baron Cohen
Tarantino's new project will be a theatrical production titled The Popinjay Cavalier. The play is a swashbuckling adventure comedy set in a world of intrigues, duels, and dangerous exploits. The lead role will be played by British actor Sacha Baron Cohen, widely known for his comedic personas Borat and Ali G. For Tarantino, this work will be an opportunity to master a new directing format and step outside familiar cinematic boundaries.
Premiere at London's Phoenix Theatre — March 2027
The premiere of The Popinjay Cavalier is scheduled for March 2027 at London's Phoenix Theatre. The run will continue through June 13 of that year. Consequently, in the coming months and right up to the summer of 2027, Tarantino will likely be entirely focused on the theatrical project, postponing any questions about starting production on the tenth film until it concludes. This timeline means audiences will not see a new Tarantino movie until at least the second half of 2027, and the actual release could be pushed even further back.
Ten movies and a return to acting
Quentin Tarantino has repeatedly stated publicly his intention to cap his directorial filmography at ten feature films. The last released picture in his directorial portfolio remains Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. The film received ten Academy Award nominations and won two. At the same time, Tarantino does not plan to completely abandon cinema: he is returning to acting and is set to appear in Tangled Up in Blue by Welsh director Jamie Adams. Thus, even after finishing his directing career, his presence in the industry will not end.
What this means for the film industry
Tarantino's decision to take a multi-year break between finishing a script and potentially filming is a rare occurrence for a Hollywood director of his stature. Usually, major studios and producers strive for the shortest possible turnaround between script completion and the start of production. Tarantino, by contrast, puts personal and creative priorities above commercial cycles, underlining his status as an author who works by his own rules. For fans of his cinema, this means that the tenth film, should it happen, will be the result of a lengthy creative hiatus and perhaps a fresh perspective on his craft following his theatrical experience.
