Quentin Tarantino drops surprise Cliff Booth teaser during Super Bowl as Brad Pitt returns in David Fincher-directed Netflix spinoff

Emerson Raymont

Published: March 2, 2026 7:57 AM ET

Quentin Tarantino drops surprise Cliff Booth teaser during Super Bowl as Brad Pitt returns in David Fincher-directed Netflix spinoff

The Super Bowl teaser for The Adventures of Cliff Booth is the latest development tied to quentin tarantino’s world, and it matters because it pairs Brad Pitt’s Oscar-winning turn with a first-time directorial collaboration with David Fincher for Netflix. The one-minute spot, which aired during the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, offered the first public glimpse of a film long hinted at and confirmed quentin tarantino wrote the script while stepping back from directing duties.

Quentin Tarantino and David Fincher: a first-time creative pairing

The announcement frames a unique alignment: Quentin Tarantino wrote The Adventures of Cliff Booth but is not directing; David Fincher is directing. This marks the first occasion the two filmmakers have joined forces. Netflix secured the project and is backing a production that industry commentary describes as carrying a substantial budget by the platform’s standards. There is also discussion of a robust theatrical rollout after any streaming debut.

Brad Pitt reprises the Oscar-winning role of Cliff Booth. The creative approach reportedly reframes the character from sidekick to protagonist, portraying Cliff’s reinvention as a fixer for hire and emphasizing vulnerability alongside toughness. The ensemble attached to the film includes Timothy Olyphant, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, among others.

What the Super Bowl teaser showed

The teaser, presented as a one-minute spot during the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, cuts between several set pieces: Cliff hanging at a bar; walking behind the scenes of a film set; and driving a derby car on a dirt race track. Brad Pitt appears in period costume, his face weathered and scarred, and is shown performing dangerous stunts himself. The clip’s tone blends gritty action with dark humor, and the visual styling features stark lighting and meticulous framing identified with Fincher’s aesthetic. Early reactions called the teaser shocking, stunning and unlike anything viewers expected.

How The Adventures of Cliff Booth connects to Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

The material in the rollout contains two distinct timeline claims. One account frames The Adventures of Cliff Booth as following Cliff Booth eight years after the events of the 2019 film Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, placing the new story in the 1970s. The 2019 film’s finale was described as ending with Cliff and his principal performer and friend Rick Dalton revising history by killing the Manson family murderers on the night they would have murdered Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Parent in 1969.

Another account describes the spinoff as a prequel that explores decades of Cliff’s earlier adventures before the events of the original film. Which timeline is definitive is unclear in the provided context; both timeline descriptions appear in the current coverage.

Release timing, budget and status

Netflix has not announced a release date for The Adventures of Cliff Booth. The production budget is described as substantial for the platform, and the company is considering a theatrical rollout after assessing streaming performance. The teaser aired in full during the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, giving the public its first look while key release details remain pending.

Other headlines and market and entertainment notes included alongside coverage

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Major League Baseball projections suggested the AL East could send four teams to the postseason in 2026, including a Jays squad described as intent on finishing the job for a World Series title.
At the NFL scouting combine, defensive prospects emerged as the biggest risers after a closer look at top prospects.

The Super Bowl teaser has restarted conversation about a major franchise extension of a 2019 character and opened new questions about how the film will position itself in time relative to the original film. Release specifics remain pending while the creative pairing and early images set expectations for a visually rigorous, star-driven Netflix event.