A long-awaited moment for filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is now a reality, as the elusive chapter from Kill Bill titled “Yuki’s Revenge” makes its debut not only in Fortnite but also as a new animated feature. The “Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill Fortnite” collaboration revitalizes this never-before-seen narrative, engaging both film aficionados and a new generation of gamers.
A Lost Scene Returns Through Animation and Gaming
After more than 20 years, Quentin Tarantino’s “The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge” has come to life using cutting-edge technology. This eight-minute animated feature reunites Uma Thurman as The Bride, whose performance was transformed into digital animation with the help of motion capture and Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, bringing the legendary character to the Fortnite universe.
The partnership between Tarantino and Epic Games, who produce Fortnite, is unique in its creative collaboration. Instead of pursuing just licensing rights for Kill Bill characters, Epic’s team prompted Tarantino to consider working on a standalone short, better aligning with both cinematic storytelling and the interactive nature of Fortnite. This opportunity led to the resurrection of an entire lost chapter from the original Kill Bill draft, which never made it past the first revision.
The Creative Process Behind “Yuki’s Revenge”
Discussing the project during a special event at the Vista Theater in Los Angeles, Quentin Tarantino revealed the unexpected nature of his discussions with Epic Games, sharing,
“They got together with me to talk about some situation where my characters and Fortnite do something kind of groovy. So I show up at the meeting thinking that we’re just going to talk about that they want to license the characters, and they want to get my ideas about what will be a fun thing to do.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director
Rather than focus on licensing, Epic Games requested original content, specifically something in the eight to twelve-minute range. Tarantino recalled their request,
“that could be good for our purposes and make sure your iconic characters are wrapped up inside this.”
— Epic Games Executive, as recounted by Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino explained that he did have suitable material, stating that “Yuki’s Revenge” existed in his first draft. He disclosed,
“It never even made second drafts,”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director
In this unused chapter, the character Gogo—originally played by Chiaki Kuriyama—was to have a twin sister, Yuki. An early exit from the House of Blue Leaves was written for Gogo due to being unwell, creating a narrative path that emphasized revenge, but concerns about pacing kept it out of the final films. Tarantino remarked,
“It was too crazy, too violent, and just too much action,”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director
Despite reservations, he sent the script to Epic Games, thinking a fresh project might not be possible:
“I actually thought maybe the ship had sailed as far as, like doing new material. I was wrong.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director
“When I wrote the first draft of the script, there was a lost chapter that, frankly, I just didn’t think we could pull off. And Yuki has been a figment of my imagination for over 20 years.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director
Innovating With Technology and Performance
At the launch event, Uma Thurman joined Tarantino, reflecting on the transformative technology involved. Using Unreal Engine’s real-time rendering and advanced motion capture, the team captured Thurman’s movements and facial expressions, blending live performance with digital animation. This approach allowed them to iterate quickly and bring more nuance to The Bride’s presence within Fortnite. Thurman described the process,
“It’s so novel to wear the camera on your head, but I completely forgot about it; just started to live in the moments of the scenes we were doing,”
— Uma Thurman, Actor
Thurman emphasized the significance of sharing Kill Bill’s universe with new audiences, stating,
“This is a new audience for the movie.”
— Uma Thurman, Actor
“It’s really moving. It’s really great, and I think it’s something meant to be.”
— Uma Thurman, Actor
Lionsgate’s Theatrical Plans and Kill Bill Legacy
Simultaneously, the animated chapter will be part of
“Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair,”
a combined edition of Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 running for four hours and set to premiere in theaters on December 5 through Lionsgate. This extended cut weaves together the full saga of The Bride, portrayed by Thurman, as she seeks vengeance against Bill and members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad who betrayed her.
The ensemble cast features Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, and David Carradine as Bill. The production, under Lawrence Bender and written and directed by Tarantino, draws from characters shaped collaboratively by Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman, giving depth to The Bride’s enduring quest for justice across multiple media.
The Impact of the Collaboration on Audiences
The partnership between Tarantino, Thurman, and Epic Games has encouraged cross-generational engagement, making cinematic storytelling interactive for modern audiences. By introducing Kill Bill characters within Fortnite, both long-time fans and younger gamers experience the saga in a new light. Tarantino expressed his hopes for both audiences, stating,
“I want both the ‘Kill Bill’ fan and the Fortnite fan to be totally effing happy about this collaboration.”
— Quentin Tarantino, Director
With “Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill Fortnite” now a reality, the creative boundaries between film and gaming continue to blur, signifying new entertainment possibilities. The release of “Yuki’s Revenge” exemplifies how legacy stories can evolve, captivating familiar fans while welcoming newcomers into the world of The Bride.
