Acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino has revealed what his next project will be, and it’s not going to be a movie. Tarantino rose to acclaim with his independent debut film Reservoir Dogs in 1992, before shooting to global prominence with the ensemble crime epic Pulp Fiction. Tarantino has directed other successful movies, including Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, and Django Unchained, and his stylistic, ultra-violent movies, peppered with pop culture references and iconic homages, have made him one of the most venerated and influential directors of all time, and there has long been speculation surrounding his tenth and final movie.

In an interview with Variety, the two-time Oscar winner reveals that the next project in his pipeline will be a play. The director states that he is in the process of writing a play, and that if it becomes a big hit, he may consider turning it into his final film, while if it is a disaster, he won’t. The reveal follows years of scrutiny over what the director might choose for his final movie, and hearing he is looking to explore theater as a medium presents a potentially exciting new career trajectory. Check out Tarantino’s comments below:

“If you’re wondering what I’m doing right now, I’m writing a play, and it’s going to be probably the next thing I end up doing. If it’s a fiasco I probably won’t turn it into a movie. But if it’s a smash hit? It might be my last movie.”

What These Comments Mean For Tarantino’s Future

There’s A Chance This Could Inspire More Plays From The Oscar-Winner

These comments mark an intriguing project from a director who has always proclaimed movies to be the ultimate medium. Interestingly, Tarantino is no stranger to other mediums, having directed an episode of the hit US crime procedural CSI, as well as the medical drama ER. He also penned his first novel with the novelization of his hit movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. So the idea of tackling a play will likely be an intriguing prospect for the Pulp Fiction director. However, the foray will not be without its challenges.

Theater is a live medium, and plays unfold in real-time. There is no safety net for being able to reshoot scenes multiple times, as there is with movies. However, Tarantino has flirted with a play format in the past, with much of his 2015 western The Hateful Eight being filmed like a play, in a limited location, with dialog set pieces, and visible scene breakdowns. So he may consider that as a helpful transition into producing a play.

Our Verdict On Whether A Tarantino Play Might Successful

His Approach To Filmmaking Suits A Play & Could End Up Influencing His Final Film

While the idea of adapting a play as his final film is a tantalizing prospect, it should be noted that Tarantino is not afraid to switch focus if he’s unhappy with something – he famously scrapped The Critic as his final movie after allegedly being displeased with the script, and the same could happen here. While details remain under wraps for now, a play would fit well with Tarantino’s hallmarks as a filmmaker, specifically strong dialog and character exploration, and it could be an exciting new foray for the wunderkind as he looks to close out a stellar career on a high.

Source: Variety