- Primary Subject: The Adventures of Cliff Booth
- Key Update: Leonardo DiCaprio officially confirmed he will not reprise his role as Rick Dalton, despite early talks and a reported $3 million cameo offer.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 12, 2026
- Quick Answer: Leonardo DiCaprio is not returning because the sequel shifts focus to Cliff Booth’s solo career as a fixer, leaving no narrative room for Rick Dalton.
Leonardo DiCaprio will not be returning to reprise his role as the aging matinee idol Rick Dalton in the upcoming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, despite the importance of his character in the first film.
DiCaprio led the 2019 Quentin Tarantino movie alongside Brad Pitt, who played stuntman Cliff Booth. As the original film ended with both characters receiving a much-needed career boost, why won’t DiCaprio appear in the sequel?
Why will Leonardo DiCaprio Not Return in The Adventures of Cliff Booth?
Instead of following both DiCaprio and Pitt’s characters, Netflix’s sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, will focus solely on its titular character.
The film will see Booth transition from working as a stuntman and Rick Dalton’s right-hand man to becoming a fixer in Hollywood’s shady underworld. But why isn’t DiCaprio part of the project?
“There were some talks about it early on… but I’m not in it,” DiCaprio told Deadline, without offering an explanation.
The sequel will be directed by David Fincher, marking a major shift from the first movie. That change is already evident in the film’s aesthetic direction, with the first trailer for The Adventures of Cliff Booth appearing noticeably darker in both tone and visuals.
Additionally, the second film centers on Booth, who’s now a criminal fixer rather than a stuntman, leaving little narrative space for Dalton.
Despite his absence, DiCaprio has expressed excitement about the sequel and praised Fincher for taking the helm.
“I think David Fincher’s the perfect man for the job,” he said. “Quentin is a huge fan of his work, I’m a huge fan of his work, and there’s nobody better to carry on that lineage and tell that story. I think it’s the next phase of Cliff Booth’s life. I’m excited to see it.”
According to reports, DiCaprio declined to make a cameo in The Adventures of Cliff Booth, despite Netflix allegedly offering him $3 million for a single day of shooting. Still, with a reported $200 million budget, the sequel is shaping up to be a major production.
Who will Return in The Adventures of Cliff Booth?
While DiCaprio will not be returning in The Adventures of Cliff Booth, that doesn’t mean other original Once Upon a Time in Hollywood stars won’t be back.
In fact, Timothy Olyphant is set to reprise his role as real-life actor James Stacy, best known as Lancer.
Additional cast members include Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Scott Caan.
So far, there’s no official word on the exact release date for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, but it is slated to premiere on Netflix in 2026.
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