Quentin Tarantino Debunks “Misinformation” About ‘Star Trek’ and More

The filmmaker opened up about not being able to counteract casting stories or other information about his plans, including scrapped project ‘The Movie Critic’.

Oscar® nominee, Quentin Tarantino arrives on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9, 2020. Credit/Provider: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

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Quentin Tarantino shot down some rumors in a new interview.
He denies casting Paul Walter Hauser in scrapped film ‘The Movie Critic’.
He also talks about theater plans.

Quentin Tarantino is not a man to be shy about his opinions. The outspoken writer/director behind the likes of ‘Reservoir Dogs’, ‘Pulp Fiction’ and the more recent ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ has emerged occasionally to talk about favorite movies or his own work.

On a recent interview for Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Tarantino opened up on a variety of subjects, including what he sees as “misinformation” about movies he’d been considering. Oh, and in a very grumpy old man style, he also talked ‘Toy Story’ of all things.

Quentin Tarantino on ‘Star Trek’

1979's 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Though chatter began back in 2017 about Tarantino conceiving and potentially directing a ‘Star Trek’ movie for Paramount, the seemingly endless churn of development and lack of a clear plan for the franchise’s future seemingly scuttled his ambitions.

This is what he said on the subject and the wider topic of misinformation about what he’s up to:

“Well, it’s never going to happen, but there has been so much misinformation about what it was going to be, nothing but misinformation. Because I’m not on Instagram and social media, consequently, if you’re Joe Schlomoko and you’re a transient reporter of some kind, if you hear Quentin is going to do a ‘Star Trek’ film or ‘The Movie Critic’ or anything, it’s a lot like that guy who wrote that Howard Hughes biography that ended up being a hoax.”

Quentin Tarantino on ‘The Movie Critic’

Tom Cruise attends the Abu Dhabi Red Carpet and Premiere of 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at Emirates Palace Hotel on June 26, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Darren Arthur/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.

Another topic widely reported was his plan to make his “final” film, and for a while it looked like it would be ‘The Movie Critic’, based around a writer the younger Tarantino used to read, who reviewed regular films in an adult magazine.

Speculation swirled around casting, including mentions of Tom Cruise being involved, Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth character from ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ and Paul Walter Hauser playing the critic.

Here’s the director dismissing those ideas:

“They can say anything. ‘Quentin is going to cast Tom Cruise, it’s for sure. The thing that was kind of funny about ‘The Movie Critic’ that I was going to cast Paul Walter Hauser… they just think he looks like a critic, so that’s why they picked him!”

Quentin Tarantino on future endeavors

Quentin Tarantino on the set of 'Django Unchained.'

So with the opportunity to talk openly about anything he wanted, he was also quizzed about what he wants to do next.

And from the sounds of it, the idea that he’ll be making his tenth –– and, according to the man himself –– final movie, could be further off than we thought.

Here’s his mention of theater musings:

“I’m leaning more towards writing— or trying for a while—theater. And in theater, it would be funny stuff.”

According to Tarantino, he’s also considering mining his past for theatrical shows, with an idea to turn his expanded novelizations of his movies into potential stage productions.

Quentin Tarantino on ‘Toy Story’

(L to R) Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) in Pixar Animation Studios' 'Toy Story.'

Finally, and most surprisingly, the filmmaker turned his attention to Pixar’s most famous franchise, and his love for the trilogy starring Buzz, Woody and the gang.

This is what he said:

“In the case of ‘Toy Story,’ the third one is just magnificent. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. And if you’ve seen the other two, it’s just devastating. But the thing is, then three years later or something, they did a fourth. I have no desire to see it. You literally ended the story as perfect as you could, so no, I don’t care if it’s good. I’m done.”

Sssh… Nobody tell him about ‘Toy Story 5’, due in theaters in 2026!

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Quentin Tarantino accepts the Oscar® for original screenplay for “Django Unchained” during the live ABC Telecast of The Oscars® from the Dolby® Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 24, 2013.