Quentin Tarantino is a Swashbuckling Playwright Now

Quentin Tarantino has insisted for several years now that he plans to stop directing films after his 10th one, because apparently you lose your mojo once you get old. So, he’s been putting off making his final movie by spending his time ragging on beloved actors like Matthew Lillard and shaking hands with members of the IDF. Most recently, he got mad at Rosanna Arquette for criticising his long-time penchant for using the N word. Now, he’s becoming a playwright. Because why not? Anything that’ll get him to shut up for a bit.

Tarantino is coming to London’s West End with a play he’s written called, and I sh*t you not, The Popinjay Cavalier. Yes, that’s the real name. It’s some Errol Flynn sh*t, and frankly, it’s not a name I think QT can get away with. He’s not Wes Anderson. The play will be, according to the announcement, “a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen.”

Going by the name and the use of the term ‘swashbuckling’, my guess is that it will be a homage to those old Flynn movies and classic Hollywood adventure japes like Captain Blood or the original Zorro serials. It doesn’t sound like a bad idea, although it does seem more suited to film than stage. It’s set for a 2027 premiere. There are no details yet of who will be in the cast, which theatre will host it or how much tickets will cost. On the last part, my guess is, “too much.” Oh, you thought the Ariana Grande-Jonathan Bailey production of Sunday in the Park with George was going to bankrupt you? Quentin’s after your cash.

I’d grumble about the West End landscape becoming dominated by IPs, big-name stunt casting, and overpriced tickets, but that’s unfortunately the norm for theatre across the board in major cities. I am intrigued by Tarantino picking London over Broadway for this debut since he could easily land a New York stage without much fuss. It is typically far cheaper to stage something on the West End, which might be a motivating factor. Sure, Quentin. Go write plays. Keep putting off your silly self-imposed retirement.

Anyone want to take bets on how many times this play will include the N word?