Brad Pitt surprised fans on July 28 in Los Angeles by returning to his iconic long blonde hair for the highly anticipated sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This notable Brad Pitt hair transformation Hollywood sequel signals his revival of the beloved character Cliff Booth, whom he first portrayed in 2019.
Alongside the dramatic change to a voluminous blonde wig, Pitt embraced the entire persona of Cliff Booth, donning the stuntman’s trademark yellow Hawaiian shirt and blue jeans, with a toothpick casually in his mouth. The original film, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, earned Pitt an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2020. However, unlike the first, the sequel will be helmed by David Fincher, marking a new creative direction for the project.
Reviving Cliff Booth with a Classic Look and New Director
The sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood remains shrouded in secrecy, with limited details released about its storyline or release date. It will debut on Netflix, though the premiere date has not been announced yet. While Brad Pitt is confirmed to return as Cliff Booth, it is still unclear whether Leonardo DiCaprio will reprise his role as Rick Dalton.
In a June interview, Pitt expressed enthusiasm about revisiting the universe created by Tarantino.
“This is something Quentin wrote as an episode—not really a sequel, but an episode of the character from Once Upon a Time,”
he shared with Deadline.
“It should be really fun. It should be good fun.”
His connection to Cliff Booth runs deep. When initially describing what drew him to the role in 2020, Pitt told W Magazine,
“Where I am in my life, I was just really drawn to him. It was a guy who was pretty at peace with his place in life. Knew what he was dedicated to. What he was not dedicated to. Looked for the best in people but was not surprised to get the worst in people. I could relate to that.”
This understanding likely fuels the sincere energy that Pitt brings to the character’s revival.
Other Notable Celebrity Hairstyles Making Headlines in 2024 and 2025
While Brad Pitt’s return to a classic hair look garnered widespread attention, numerous celebrities have also stepped into fresh hairstyles, demonstrating the diverse trends sweeping through Hollywood.
Kelly Clarkson’s Bold New Bob
In July 2025, American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson unveiled a drastic shift from her usual blonde waves to a shorter, darker bob during a promo for The Voice, marking a fresh chapter in her signature style.
Chris Pratt’s Rugged Beard for The Terminal List
The star of The Terminal List, Chris Pratt, adopted a full beard by June 2025 to complement his character’s look in the show’s second season, adding depth to his on-screen presence.
Finn Wolfhard’s Buzzcut Reveal
At the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, Finn Wolfhard surprised fans with a sharp buzzcut, departing from his well-known shaggy hair in May 2025.
Sebastian Stan’s Shaved Head Transformation
Marvel’s Sebastian Stan embraced a shaved head for the Los Angeles premiere of Thunderbolts in April 2025, saying goodbye to the long hair famously associated with his character Bucky Barnes.
JoJo Siwa’s Vibrant Rainbow Mohawk
Known for her bold style, JoJo Siwa debuted a colorful rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards in March 2025, showcasing her fearless approach to self-expression.
Emily Ratajkowski’s Regretful Haircut
The model described her shaggy bangs haircut in a March 2025 TikTok video as
“the worst haircut of my life,”
revealing how sometimes even fashionable choices don’t pan out as expected.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Post-Baby Bob
Following the birth of her daughter Aurora Urker, Gypsy Rose Blanchard debuted a chic short bob in March 2025, signaling a fresh start in both life and style.
Whitney Rose’s Red Bob Reveal
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star adopted striking red bob hair during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in January 2025, departing from her previous blonde persona.
Hailey Bieber’s New Lighter Locks
In September 2024, a month after welcoming her first child, Hailey Bieber transitioned to lighter hair shades, marking a tender moment of personal change shared with the public.
Lily Collins’ Bold New Haircut at MAXXXINE Premiere
At the June 2024 world premiere of her horror film MAXXXINE, Lily Collins debuted a dramatic cut and color change.
“Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around,”
she told Vogue.
“This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now.”
Katie Holmes’ Subtle Caramel Balayage
At Chanel’s Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner in June 2024, Katie Holmes revealed a subtle yet elegant caramel balayage blended into her brunette hair, reflecting maturity and sophistication.
Kylie Jenner’s Return to Platinum Blonde Bob
After years of long waist-length hair, Kylie Jenner switched to a platinum blonde bob in June 2024.
“Did someone say they missed king kylie,”
she teased on Instagram, sparking an excited response from sister Khloe Kardashian, who replied, “I did! I did!!!!!!”
Lisa Rinna’s Platinum Look in Paris
During Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture in 2024, Lisa Rinna embraced a platinum blonde hair transformation, adding to her reputation for bold style choices.
Priyanka Chopra’s Chic Bob in Rome
At a Bulgari event in May 2024, Priyanka Chopra unveiled a striking shoulder-grazing bob, marking a distinctive and sophisticated update.
Jessica Biel’s Nostalgic Bob
Jessica Biel cut her hair into a bob reminiscent of her Mary Camden character on the ’90s show 7th Heaven during May 2024, causing fans to reminisce about her early work.
Megan Fox’s New Hair Eras
After previously dyeing her hair blue to signify her “Jedi era,” Megan Fox returned to dark brown locks with a sassy bob in May 2024. Earlier in April, she made headlines with a baby blue bob, further showcasing multiple dramatic looks within a few months.
Dannielynn Birkhead’s Kentucky Derby Lob
The daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle at the 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, a striking transformation she revealed overnight while attending the event with her father Larry Birkhead.
Demi Lovato and Kelly Osbourne’s Blonde Makeovers
Demi Lovato sported a lighter, shorter hairstyle in April 2024, while Kelly Osbourne transitioned from her signature purple to an icy silver in March, followed by a blonde bombshell makeover in May, highlighting their evolving personal styles.
Kim Kardashian and Rihanna’s Blonde Reinventions
Kim Kardashian returned to platinum blonde hair in April 2024, and Rihanna unveiled a bright blonde transformation in London during an event celebrating her Fenty x Puma collection, blending fashion with dramatic new hair undertones.
Delilah Belle Hamlin’s Pixie Cut and Zendaya’s Versatile Looks
Delilah Belle Hamlin stunned with a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event in April 2024. Meanwhile, Zendaya debuted both a shoulder-grazing bob at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood Awards in March and a honey blonde transformation shortly after her long bob cut, demonstrating her dynamic approach to style.
Elle Fanning, Rachel McAdams, Bre Tiesi, and Sydney Sweeney’s Stylish Shifts
Elle Fanning kicked off spring 2025 with a fresh long bob, Rachel McAdams switched from her signature blonde to a dark brunette in March, and Bre Tiesi boldly transformed into a dramatic blonde the same month. Sydney Sweeney also made a striking impression with a dramatic long bob hairstyle at the Miu Miu fall/winter 2024-2025 show during Paris Fashion Week.
What Brad Pitt’s Hair Transformation Means for the Future
Brad Pitt’s decision to fully re-embrace the Cliff Booth look marks both a nostalgia-driven and fresh approach to the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel. His commitment to the iconic hairstyle and costume signals the significance of this character’s return in a film poised to explore new narrative territory under David Fincher’s direction. With the sequel debuting on Netflix, fans eagerly await how Pitt’s performance and the story will evolve within this “episode” of the character’s life.
As Brad Pitt sets the tone with his captivating hair transformation, the broader trend of celebrity hair changes reflects a period of reinvention and bold self-expression across Hollywood. Whether embracing subtle highlights or radical new cuts, stars are using their looks to mark new phases both personally and professionally.
