Since he began making movies, Quentin Tarantino has been candid about his career plans. He would make 10 films and then retire, that’s it. No more, no less. Well, recent comments from Tarantino now make it seem like the director is considering early retirement.
In an interview with GQ Australia promoting his upcoming ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino hinted that he may be done after this one. “I think when it comes to theatrical movies, I’ve come to the end of the road,” Tarantino said. “I see myself writing film books and starting to write theatre, so I’ll still be creative. I just think I’ve given all I have to give to movies.”
It would make sense if Tarantino called it a day after Hollywood. The buzz around the film says it could be his best since Pulp Fiction (at least, according to the Cannes audience) and with so much of his recent work being pretty polarizing, going out on top feels like more his style. The director even stated as much in the interview. “Well, um. If it’s really well received, maybe I won’t go to 10. Maybe I’ll stop right now! Maybe I’ll stop while I’m ahead. We’ll see.”
Longtime Tarantino collaborator Brad Pitt told GQ Australia, “No, I don’t think he’s bluffing at all. I think he’s dead serious. And I kind of openly lament that to him, but he understands the math of when he feels like directors start falling off their game. But he has other plans and we’re not going to have to say goodbye for a long time.”
Hopefully, Tarantino is bluffing and we’ll get to see that R-rated Star Trek film. But, if not, then at least we’ve still got one more Tarantino flick to obsess over.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood hits theaters on July 26th.
