In a revealing new episode of the *Church of Tarantino* podcast (available on Spotify), Quentin Tarantino disclosed that his shelved project, *The Movie Critic*, was initially conceived as an eight-episode miniseries, with a complete script finalized as early as 2022.
The acclaimed director shared that he had planned to pitch the fully written series to streaming platforms, only to later reimagine it as a feature film — a decision driven by personal creative exploration rather than external pressures.
Tarantino explained that the attempt to condense the sprawling narrative of the miniseries into a single film opened up new creative possibilities. However, during pre-production, his enthusiasm waned. The story, set in 1977 Los Angeles, began to feel derivative and lacked the freshness he sought. Ultimately, this led Tarantino to abandon *The Movie Critic* entirely, leaving his coveted “tenth and final film” slot unfilled.
Addressing speculation, Tarantino also clarified that *The Movie Critic* is entirely separate from *The Adventures of Cliff Booth*, a project reportedly in development with David Fincher.
Despite rumors and their shared connection to the *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* universe, Tarantino emphasized that *The Movie Critic* did not feature Cliff Booth or any direct crossovers.
While both projects are set in Los Angeles, *The Movie Critic* takes place in 1977, distinct from the earlier timeline of *Hollywood* and without any narrative overlap.
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The revelation offers a rare glimpse into Tarantino’s creative process and his willingness to walk away from a project that doesn’t meet his exacting standards. As fans await news of his final cinematic endeavor, *The Movie Critic* remains a fascinating “what could have been” in the director’s storied career.
