Quentin Tarantino, the iconic filmmaker known for his distinct narrative style, has reportedly shelved his anticipated final project, “The Movie Critic.” According to sources close to the director, Tarantino has decided to abandon the project to explore other ideas for his tenth and supposed last film.

Tarantino, who has consistently stated his plan to retire after ten films, found inspiration for “The Movie Critic” from an unusual chapter in his own life—his teenage job loading porn magazines into vending machines. The film was set to delve into the life of a caustic yet humorous film critic writing for a pornographic magazine, a character that Tarantino described as a mix between early Howard Stern and a cinematic Travis Bickle.

Set against the backdrop of 1977 California, “The Movie Critic” was to spotlight a critic working for the fictional “The Popstar Pages.” Tarantino had hinted at casting a new leading man around the age of 35, sparking rumors that Brad Pitt might reprise his role as Cliff Booth from “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.”

However, after a delay due to script rewrites, Tarantino has opted to go back to the drawing board. This is not the first time Tarantino has paused a project; he famously halted “The Hateful Eight” after a script leak, only to return and complete it later. As fans await his next move, the suspense surrounding what will truly be Tarantino’s final film continues to build.

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