Fans have been waiting to see what Quentin Tarantino will choose as the final film of his directing career. The filmmaker has said multiple times that he plans to retire after directing his 10th movie, which has made every potential project feel like a big deal.
But instead of locking in that final film, Tarantino appears to be heading in a completely different direction for his next creative endeavor.
According to a new report from the Daily Mail, Tarantino has written a stage play titled The Popinjay Cavalier, described as a British farce and “swashbuckling comedy”.
The play is reportedly in the tradition of Noises Off, the acclaimed stage comedy about a theater troupe whose attempt to perform a play-within-a-play spirals into complete chaos.
The plays is set in 1830s Europe, and is said to be “a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen.”
If the project moves forward as planned, the play isn’t expected to premiere in London’s West End until 2027, though the report suggests that “late 2026 is still a remote possibility.” Tarantino is also said to be negotiating with major Hollywood stars for the cast while exploring potential venues.
This is not something Tarantino plans to throw together quickly either. During a podcast appearance last summer, he talked about how much time the play could demand, saying it is “probably going to take up a year and a half to two years of my life.”
If that timeline holds true, it could be quite a while before we see Tarantino’s final film take shape. The director still needs to settle on the concept for his 10th movie and write the script.
Considering how long he usually spends developing his films, there’s a real chance the project won’t arrive until 2029 at the earliest. That would mark nearly a decade since the release of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019, and it’s possible the film could slip into the early 2030s depending on how things unfold.
Tarantino has had an interesting stretch recently when it comes to upcoming projects. He previously developed a film called The Movie Critic, which was expected to be his next feature, but those plans were ultimately scrapped.
At the same time, his script for a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follow-up titled The Adventures of Cliff Booth is moving ahead with David Fincher directing.
All of this has only added to the curiosity surrounding Tarantino’s final film. With classics like Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in his filmography, the filmmaker has built one of the most celebrated directing careers of his generation.
There’s understandable pressure to end things on a high note, especially since he’s been vocal about sticking to his 10-film rule.
There’s also the argument that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood already felt like a perfect farewell. The movie brings together many of Tarantino’s signature storytelling elements while serving as a heartfelt tribute to the era that shaped his love of movies. Trying to top that as a grand finale would be a tall order for any filmmaker.
Still, taking a detour into theater might be exactly what Tarantino needs. Writing and producing a British farce is a very different challenge from the crime stories and alternate history epics he’s known for.
His sharp, rhythm-driven dialogue could fit the genre surprisingly well, especially in a fast-paced stage comedy built around chaotic timing and character interactions.
For now, Tarantino’s long-awaited final film remains somewhere on the horizon. In the meantime, watching him dive into something completely new could be a lot of fun.
Who knows, this creative side quest might be the spark that eventually leads him to the perfect idea for movie number ten.