Quentin Tarantino Set to Return to Filmmaking in an Unexpected Twist

Quentin Tarantino is stepping back into the world of filmmaking, but not in the way most fans expected.

According to Variety, the Oscar-winning director came out of retirement for a small, improvised project called Only What We Carry, directed by Jamie Adams.

The film was shot over just six days in Deauville, France, at the end of September. It had a tiny budget and was made in an experimental style, relying heavily on improvisation from the cast.

Alongside Tarantino, the movie stars Simon Pegg, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Liam Hellmann, and singer Lizzy McAlpine, who makes her acting debut.

The story takes place on the windy coast of Normandy. Simon Pegg plays Julian Johns, a once-great teacher whose former student, Charlotte Levant (played by Sofia Boutella), returns home to confront her past.

Tarantino plays John Percy, Julian’s old friend whose arrival brings up old secrets. The cast also includes Gainsbourg as Charlotte’s caring sister, Josephine; Hellmann as Vincent, an artist struggling with loyalty and love; and McAlpine as Jacqueline, a young dancer who changes everything for the group.

Simon Pegg shared his thoughts about the experience, saying it reminded him of his early creative days. “Creatively speaking, working on ‘Only What We Carry’ was like going back to school. It was an incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable experience in the tradition of Eric Rohmer and Mike Leigh, with a group of truly amazing people,” he said in a statement to Variety.

Director Jamie Adams described the project as a dream come true. “It’s always been a dream of mine to shoot an Eric Rohmer-styled picture in Normandy, a dream that included collaborating with an exceptional international ensemble cast and crew. It turns out by embracing the freedoms of independent cinema that dream has come true. I’m forever grateful to the cast and crew of ‘Only What We Carry’ for this moment,” Adams said.

Adams is known for his free-flowing, character-driven stories in films like She Is Love and Wild Honey Pie!, and his latest work continues that same style. The film was produced by Charles Benoin, Liam Hellmann, and Jouri Smit under Atlas Pictures and Easy of the Eye.

For Tarantino fans, this unexpected return isn’t the grand comeback many imagined, but it shows that even after announcing his retirement, he’s still drawn to the craft. And this time, it’s not about big budgets or blockbuster style, just raw, creative filmmaking.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!