New book: The Making of Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

by Sebastian · October 19, 2025

making of quentin tarantino's once upon a time in hollywood book glennie

The following text is from the press release. We will offer you a full on review of this book in the very near future.

For the first time ever, Academy Award–winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has authorized and granted unprecedented access to journalist and author Jay Glennie to write the making of three of his classic films beginning with The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. The comprehensive coffee table book will be released on November 11 by Insight Editions. The Story Factory’s Shane Salerno concluded the three-book deal with Insight and the next two books in the Quentin Tarantino Library will explore Inglorious Basterds (already completed) and Django Unchanged (being written now), and will release in 2026 and 2027. Tarantino will write the introductions for each book. Glennie is set to write large scale, deep-dive books for all ten of Tarantino’s films, the nine he has made and the one that is forthcoming which Tarantino has announced as his last.

“I have Jay Glennie’s books in my collection, and I have read and loved them, in particular on the making of The Deer Hunter. I just know that there is no better guy to take a deep dive into my movies. I couldn’t be more thrilled with such a beautiful, fun, funny, and (at least to me) moving examination of my favorite movie.” — QT.

“Quentin Tarantino is a master storyteller whose impact on cinema is extraordinary,” says Insight Editions CEO, Raoul Goff and Publisher Vanessa Lopez. “This is not just a book for movie lovers; it’s an exploration of what makes Tarantino one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. Publishing this series of books is both a celebration of Tarantino’s career, as well as a deep dive into the artistry behind his films, We’re thrilled to work with Jay to bring these projects to life, offering readers a unique and intimate perspective on each of these iconic films.”

“When Quentin asked me if ‘I wanted to give his flicks the Jay Glennie Treatment’ I jumped at the opportunity. Quentin’s films have been the touchstone of my film education. Pulp Fiction was the first film Kelly, my now wife, and I saw together, his films mean everything to me. So to be invited to take deep dives into each of them, with Quentin and his casts and crews is an honor. I simply cannot wait for Quentin’s millions of fans across the world to read our first release Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” Glennie told Deadline.

The first of three new books covering Tarantino’s oeuvre, The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood includes exclusive interviews with key cast and crew members, including Oscar winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, Oscar nominee Margot Robbie, and the brilliant supporting cast, including Oscar-winner Mikey Madison, Margaret Qualley, Oscar-nominee Austin Butler, Lena Dunham, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Maya Hawke, Sydney Sweeney, producer David Heyman and Sony’s Tom Rothman and Sanford Panitch, among a hundred others.

Leonardo DiCaprio shares in his exclusive interview how he connected directly to the role of down-n-out actor Rick Dalton.

“I have twenty-five friends that I’ve known for thirty years and half of them are actors you know and great actors. So I had this unbelievable connection with Rick because I know that story so well,” explained Leo. “They are amazing actors that have so much to give and so much to offer creatively and you know some of them have been in the right place at the right time and some of them haven’t. It does have a lot to do with luck and being prepared at the right time. So, I know these guys you know I’ve grown up with them. They have so much talent and almost came close to this one particular role that would’ve gotten them to that other level. DiCaprio remembered a particular audition he did for Baywatch as a young actor. “Had the producer’s on Baywatch chosen me, well I would’ve been on that show for ten years and I would’ve never gotten other opportunities.”

In addition to Tarantino’s special introductions, the coffee table book which will feature hundreds of behind-the-scenes photographs, production memos and letters, concept art, costume and production design sketches, and film ephemera. The result is an account of the monumental effort undertaken to produce Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and is the official record of how it was achieved, from creation and writing to the world premiere and ten Academy Award nominations and two Oscar wins.

With more than 400 pages and hundreds of photographs (many never seen before) detailing every aspect of the film, from the writing of the script, casting, rehearsals, through to production and costume design—and a trove of never-before-seen material—this is the definitive exploration of the making of this one-of-a-kind film and the start of a groundbreaking series of books chronicling Tarantino’s award-winning career to date.

We will present you with a review of this book as soon as possible.