Quentin Tarantino is returning to the world of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in a new way, with The Adventures of Cliff Booth set to be published by Harper on December 8, 2026. The book will expand the story of Cliff Booth, the stuntman played by Brad Pitt in Tarantino’s 2019 film.
The novel is set in 1977, several years after the events of the original movie. Harper’s synopsis describes Booth as a war hero, stuntman, bartender and cinema projectionist who occasionally carries out “clandestine services” for friends.
Tarantino Expands Cliff Booth’s Story Beyond Film
The upcoming book arrives as Cliff Booth is also returning to the screen in The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth. The feature film is being directed by David Fincher, with Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role and Tarantino writing the screenplay.
The movie is set eight years after Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and follows Booth as he navigates a dramatically different Hollywood in 1977. The film is scheduled for a two-week IMAX theatrical run beginning November 25 before arriving on Netflix on December 23.
Tarantino previously explained on The Church of Tarantino podcast why he decided not to direct the film himself. He said he loved the screenplay but felt he was “still walking down the same ground” he had already explored, which made him less enthusiastic about directing it. The Hollywood Reporter source previously reported on his decision.
Pitt’s performance as Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood earned him his first Academy Award for acting, making the character one of the most recognizable creations from Tarantino’s later career.
The new novel gives Tarantino another opportunity to explore Booth outside the structure of a feature film. Its 1977 setting also connects directly with the upcoming Fincher movie, creating two different ways for audiences to revisit the character.
With the book arriving on December 8 and the film reaching Netflix later that month, Cliff Booth will have a significant presence across both publishing and cinema before the end of 2026.