Quentin Tarantino has plenty of writing projects on his mind, from novels to his first stage play, but there is one literary form he believes he struggles with: poetry. The 63-year-old filmmaker discussed his creative process during a special screening of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood at AFI Fest 2026 in Los Angeles on Friday, October 23.
Quentin Tarantino admits he’s not very good at poetry
According to People, Tarantino said writing remains a constant part of his life, regardless of the format. “I’m a writer and that’s just kind of what I do,” he shared. “I’m always writing something.”
He explained that he always has a film or book idea in development, even if it takes years to complete. As he gets older, he has also become more interested in writing outside his usual screenplays. He said, “As I’m getting older, being a man of letters is more my thing.” He continued, “So screenplays and books and plays and everything except poetry. I don’t think I’m very good at poetry.”
Meanwhile, Tarantino is preparing for his stage-play debut with The Popinjay Cavalier. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in November, ahead of the production’s planned March 2027 opening on London’s West End. Described as a comedy of deception and disguise inspired by swashbuckling stage and screen epics, the play will also feature Sacha Baron Cohen. The actor reportedly accepted his role without asking Tarantino any questions about the project.
Beyond theatre, Tarantino continues to expand his literary work. He published his debut novel, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, in 2021, based on his 2019 film. He has also announced The Adventures of Cliff Booth. It is a follow-up novel connected to the upcoming film The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Both projects follow Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt in the film, and are set in Hollywood in 1977. The movie is scheduled to premiere on November 25, 2026, while the novel is due to hit bookshelves on December 8.
Tarantino’s previous books also include Cinema Speculation, his 2022 nonfiction work exploring 1970s cinema through essays, memoir and reflections on his creative process.
