Quentin Tarantino’s Unmade Movies and Sequels
Quentin Tarantino has long been known for his unique storytelling and cinematic flair. Over the years, he has been associated with numerous unmade movies, some of which could have been groundbreaking if they had ever come to fruition. These projects range from sequels to his own films, to adaptations of popular franchises. The list of potential gems that never saw the light of day is extensive.
Potential Adaptations and Projects
One of the most intriguing aspects of Tarantino’s career is his interest in adapting existing works. He has explored several books and stories, including Luke Cage, Len Deighton’s Game, Set and Match spy trilogy, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He also expressed a desire to direct Sgt. Rock, although it was the only screenplay he didn’t write that he would consider directing. His selection process is meticulous, and he only commits to projects that truly capture his imagination.
While he often discusses exciting ideas, he rarely follows through on them. However, he has shown interest in remakes and franchises as well. With the possibility of his retirement after his upcoming tenth film, it seems unlikely that he will revisit any of these unmade projects.
Kill Bill: Vol 3
The conclusion of Kill Bill: Vol 2 left many questions unanswered. The story of The Bride (Uma Thurman) ended with her successful mission and reunion with her daughter. However, there were unresolved threads, such as the fate of Daryl Hannah’s character, Elle Driver. Tarantino had considered a third installment that would take place two decades later, where The Bride and her daughter would be targeted for revenge. Despite his fluctuating thoughts on the project, he has essentially ruled out the possibility of a third film.
Tarantino cited exhaustion from making the original Kill Bill as a key reason for not pursuing a sequel. To promote the release of 2025’s Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, he allowed an unfilmed chapter titled Yuki’s Revenge to be adapted into an animated short by Fortnite. This chapter, originally intended for the first Kill Bill, featured The Bride being targeted by Yuki, the sister of Gogo (Chiaki Kuriyama). This short is likely the closest fans will get to a Kill Bill: Vol 3.
Kill Bill Anime Prequels
Tarantino had grand plans for expanding the Kill Bill universe. He envisioned an anime prequel that would explore The Bride’s time with the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. This would have provided more backstory for the team seen briefly in the films. Additionally, he had an idea for an anime exploring how Bill (David Carradine) became such a powerful assassin, focusing on his training with his “Godfathers.” Unfortunately, neither of these projects came to life.
Double V Vega
Pulp Fiction’s Vincent Vega was originally written with Michael Madsen in mind, who had played Vic Vega in Reservoir Dogs. The plan was for the Vegas to be twins, but Madsen dropped out to star in Wyatt Earp, leading John Travolta to take the role. Tarantino considered a prequel titled Double V Vega, featuring the two brothers on a violent adventure in Amsterdam. However, as the actors aged, the project was abandoned.
Killer Crow
Tarantino spent years working on Inglourious Basterds, and several chapters were cut from the final version. One such segment involved African American soldiers seeking revenge against white soldiers. Although this did not make it into the final film, Tarantino considered recycling the idea for a loose trilogy that included Django Unchained. However, he eventually moved on from the concept.
Star Trek 4
One of the most infamous unmade projects involves a fourth film in the Star Trek Kelvin Timeline. Tarantino began developing this around the time of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, based on the TOS episode “A Piece of the Action.” The story involved the Enterprise visiting a planet modeled after 1920s gangster culture. While Tarantino liked the script and was willing to break his self-imposed ten-movie limit, he ultimately walked away from the project.
Halloween 6
Tarantino was offered the chance to write and direct Halloween 6, but he was never fully committed to the idea. He conceived a plot where Michael Myers and his handler, The Man in Black, go on a violent road trip. However, his premise was considered thin, and he opted to make Jackie Brown instead. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers was released in 1995 to poor reviews and box office performance, leading to a soft reboot with Halloween H20: 20 Years Later.
Grindhouse 2
The original Grindhouse was a tribute to exploitation movies, featuring Death Proof by Tarantino and Planet Terror by Robert Rodriguez. There were hopes of a sequel, with Tarantino planning a retro Kung-fu epic in Mandarin. However, the financial failure of Grindhouse put an end to those plans.
Django/Zorro
Tarantino had plans to expand the world of Django Unchained, including a crossover comic titled Django/Zorro. Jamie Foxx made a cameo in A Million Ways to Die in the West, and there were discussions about him teaming up with Antonio Banderas’ Zorro. However, this project was quietly abandoned.
Casino Royale
Perhaps one of the most significant “what-ifs” in Tarantino’s career is his proposed adaptation of Casino Royale. He pursued the rights to the first James Bond novel for years, aiming to make it independent of EON’s mainline series. He wanted Pierce Brosnan as 007, an R-rated film set in the 1960s, and in black and white. However, EON eventually acquired the rights, and the film became the first entry in the Daniel Craig reboot era.
