Quentin Tarantino reminded fans earlier this month in an interview with GQ Australia that he still plans to retire from filmmaking after his 10th feature. But with the potential for him to direct the much-discussed R-rated Star Trek, many wonder if he’ll count that as his final film since it isn’t an original, thus introducing a QT-described “loophole” where he could direct Star Trek and another original project.
In a new interview with CinemaBlend, the director said he’s been mulling over that idea. “I guess I do have a loophole, [if] the idea was to throw a loophole into it. Which would be [to go], ‘Uhhh, I guess Star Trek doesn't count. I can do Star Trek … but naturally I would end on an original.’ But the idea of doing 10 isn't to come up with a loophole. I actually think, if I was going to do Star Trek, I should commit to it. It's my last movie. There should be nothing left handed about it. I don't know if I'm going to do that, but that might happen.”
In the beginning of July, Tarantino told GQ, “I think when it comes to theatrical movies, I’ve come to the end of the road. I see myself writing film books and starting to write theatre, so I’ll still be creative. I just think I’ve given all I have to give to movies.”
The forthcoming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is his ninth directorial effort. Until now, eight of the nine films QT's written and directed have been original works; for his third film, he adapted Jackie Brown from an existing Elmore Leonard novel.
Tarantino has secured the script for his version of Star Trek, although the studio has yet to give the project the green light. If they do and he directs, it will likely be his last movie.
Trek legend William Shatner has given Tarantino’s script his blessing. The first Captain Kirk took to Twitter earlier this month to advocate for QT's vision against some Star Trek fans who were mad that a new installation could be rated R.
“Why are people plotzing about this?" Shatner inquired. "It’s my understanding that Star Trek Discovery has used expletives in some episodes. Why aren’t people melting down over that?”
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood hits theaters on July 26.
