The Popinjay Cavalier
| The Popinjay Cavalier | |
|---|---|
Teaser poster | |
| Written by | Quentin Tarantino |
| Directed by | Quentin Tarantino |
| Place premiered | West End theatres |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | |
| Setting | 1830s Europe |
| Official site | |
The Popinjay Cavalier is an upcoming British swashbuckler farce play written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Premise
Set in 1830s Europe, the play is a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen.[1]
History
In April 1998, Quentin Tarantino starred in the Broadway revival of Wait Until Dark, which premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.[2] In April 2014, Tarantino held a staged reading of a leaked early draft of The Hateful Eight (2015) at Los Angeles County Museum of Art's theatre at Ace Hotel.[3][4][5] In January 2016, he previously had plans to adapt The Hateful Eight into a stage play.[6] In June 2021, he said he wrote a stage play adaptation of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), months after he wrote the first draft of the film.[7] According to Tarantino, if developed, the production would have debuted in the West End theatres.[8] In July 2021, he said that he had plans to remake his film Reservoir Dogs (1992) as a stage play.[9] In June 2023, Tarantino Live, a staged mashup of various characters, scenes, and soundtracks from Tarantino's films, debuted at Riverside Studios in London.[10][11]
Production
In January 2025, Tarantino announced he was writing a stage play.[12] In August 2025, he said he would be moving to London to begin production on the stage play in January 2026.[13] The production is set to open in the West End theatres in early 2027.[14][15] The play is described as an "old-fashioned British farce", inspired by Michael Frayn's Noises Off (1982).[15][16] In March 2026, the play was titled The Popinjay Cavalier, with Sonia Friedman Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment as the production companies.[10] The play is described as a "swashbuckling comedy" set in 1830s Europe.[17]
Future
In August 2025, Tarantino said that if the stage production was well received, he could adapt it into his tenth and final film.[14] In March 2026, he also said that if The Popinjay Cavalier became successful in the West End theatres, he would launch a worldwide tour of it.[10]
References
- ^ Shafer, Ellise (11 March 2026). "Quentin Tarantino's New Play Titled 'The Popinjay Cavalier', Sets West End Debut for 2027". Variety. Archived from the original on 11 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Lefkowitz, David (5 April 1998). "Tarantino-Tomei Wait Until Dark Opens on B'way Apr. 5". Playbill. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Eisenberg, Eric (3 April 2014). "Quentin Tarantino Will Share His Hateful Eight Script With One Lucky Audience". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on 9 June 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "World Premiere of a Staged Reading by Quentin Tarantino: The Hateful Eight". LACMA. 19 April 2014. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ Anderton, Ethan (21 April 2014). "Tarantino's 'Hateful Eight' Live-Read Reveals Script Still Developing". FirstShowing. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (10 January 2016). "Quentin Tarantino Plans to Make 'Hateful Eight' Into a Play". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (29 June 2021). "Tarantino Plans 'Hollywood' Stage Play Before Directing Final Movie, Which Won't Be for 'A while'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (16 July 2021). "Quentin Tarantino Wants To Debut His Stage Play In London's West End". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ Reyes, Mike (8 July 2021). "Quentin Tarantino's Idea For A Reservoir Dogs Reboot Actually Sounds Cool". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Wiegand, Chris (11 March 2026). "Quentin Tarantino's 'swashbuckling epic' The Popinjay Cavalier set for West End premiere". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ Gilbey, Ryan (28 June 2023). "Tarantino Live review – a megamix of songs, speeches and severed ears". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ Donnelly, Matt (27 January 2025). "Quentin Tarantino in 'No Hurry' to Direct Final Movie; Pledges to Wait Until His Son Can Have Lifelong Memories on Set". Variety. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Tarantino says family will relocate from Israel to London next year for work on West End play". The Times of Israel. 16 August 2025. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ a b Pillai, Pooja (20 August 2025). "Quentin Tarantino hints West End play could become his final film as he relocates to London". Eastern Eye. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (8 March 2026). "Quentin Tarantino's First Play Eyeing Early 2027 London Launch". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ Boshoff, Alison (6 March 2026). "Alison Boshoff: Quentin Tarantino to bring 'classic British trouser dropping' farce to the West End". Daily Mail. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ^ Youngs, Ian (11 March 2026). "Quentin Tarantino to stage 'swashbuckling comedy' The Popinjay Cavalier in London theatre". BBC. Retrieved 11 March 2026.