Quentin Tarantino may have sworn off directing after shelving The Movie Critic, but he’s not quite ready to leave the spotlight altogether. While he's most famous for his directorial catalogue, Tarantino does act too. Now, in a surprising twist, the legendary filmmaker has taken on his biggest acting role in decades with Jamie Adams’ new indie drama Only What We Carry. And honestly? The story behind the movie is almost as fascinating as the film itself.
What do we know about the film so far?
Shot over just six whirlwind days in Deauville, France, the film is an experiment in bare-bones filmmaking. Adams, known for his free-flowing, improvisational style in She Is Love and Wild Honey Pie!, gathered a stellar cast and leaned into spontaneity. With no rigid script and a shoestring budget, the production sounds like both a gamble and a creative playground.
At its core, the film is described as a meditation on love, loss, and the baggage we all carry with us—both literal and emotional. That title isn’t just poetic; it seems to be the film’s thesis. And Adams couldn’t be happier about realizing his long-held dream of shooting an Eric Rohmer-inspired story on the Normandy coast. “By embracing the freedoms of independent cinema,” he said, “that dream has come true."
The story follows a once-formidable instructor struggling with his past, whose world is shaken when a former student returns home to confront old wounds. As family ties, artistic ambitions, and long-buried secrets collide, the ensemble of friends and loved ones becomes entangled in a web of intrigue and emotional tension.
Who's in the cast?
The lineup alone is enough to pique anyone’s interest...
- Simon Pegg (Julian Johns)
- Sofia Boutella (Charlotte Levant)
- John Percy (Quentin Tarantino)
- Charlotte Gainsbourg (Josephine)
- Liam Hellmann (Vincent)
- Lizzy McAlpine (in her acting debut)
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Why is Tarantino back acting?
The casting of Tarantino is especially fascinating. While he’s popped up in cameos – often violently dispatching himself in his own films – it’s been years since he’s taken on such a substantial acting role outside his own projects.
A source told Deadline that Tarantino “was pitched the role through his agent because he was perfect for the part”.
For fans who still remember his turn alongside George Clooney in From Dusk Till Dawn, this feels like a rare and welcome return. Simon Pegg even admitted the shoot felt like “going back to school” – an environment full of creative risks and unexpected discoveries.
When will it be released?
There's currently no information yet about when the film will be released, but given that it's already been shot (and over only six days), we're hoping for a quick turnaround.
