Quentin Tarantino is set to captivate fans once again with a fresh take on his legendary saga, as a Quentin Tarantino animated Kill Bill project is in the works. The filmmaker, known for his dramatic and charged style, has teased an origin story and a lost sequence soon to debut, offering both longtime followers and new viewers a unique look into his cinematic universe.
Lost Chapter ‘Yuki’s Revenge’ Arrives in Animated Form
Kill Bill’s enduring appeal continues to fuel new endeavors. Not only is the classic two-part revenge thriller making a return to cinemas as a single, uncut presentation, but a never-before-seen segment – a seven-and-a-half-minute animated passage titled “The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge” – is ready for its much-anticipated debut. This action-packed segment, previously omitted from the original shooting due to budget and length constraints, will be available first within Fortnite, the popular video game known for high-profile crossover events. After this interactive premiere, it will enjoy a limited theatrical release.
“Yuki’s Revenge” was part of early drafts of the Kill Bill script, which audiences can still find online today. Tarantino originally held back on filming this chapter, but when Epic Games invited him to partner on content for Fortnite Chapter Seven, debuting November 30, he seized the opportunity to bring the idea to life. Academy Award nominee Uma Thurman returned as Beatrix Kiddo—also famous as the Bride—with advanced motion capture technology and Unreal Engine software recreating her signature expressions and moves in animated form.
An Animated Future for Tarantino’s Untold Stories
Tarantino’s positive experience with this new form of visual storytelling has inspired him to consider revitalizing other dormant visions. During a special showing of “Yuki’s Revenge” at his Vista Theater in Los Angeles, where he was joined by Thurman, Tarantino discussed his continued interest in exploring stories left behind after the original Kill Bill films.
“I’ve got other things to do right now, but I had a whole Kill Bill idea in my mind when we were doing it, and then I was so wiped out from doing the movie,”
Quentin Tarantino, Director & Writer.
“I like the idea of a Bill origin. A story of Bill, about how Bill became Bill and the three godfathers that made Bill: Esteban Vihaio, Pai Mei, and Hattori Hanzō. Will I live long enough to do that? That remains to be seen.”
Quentin Tarantino, Director & Writer.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 chronicle the determined quest for vengeance of Beatrix Kiddo, played by Uma Thurman, a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad led by Bill, portrayed by David Carradine. Bill’s mysterious past includes formative encounters with three enigmatic mentors: Esteban Vihaio, depicted by Michael Parks as a paternal figure; Pai Mei, brought to life by Gordon Liu, the legendary kung fu master; and Hattori Hanzō, the iconic swordsmith played by Sonny Chiba. These “godfathers” are critical to Bill’s transformation into a powerful crime boss, and an animated exploration could finally unveil their influence on his rise.
So far, these pivotal characters have mainly interacted with Thurman’s Kiddo, offering only glimpses into Bill’s backstory. Tarantino’s animated origin concept would present fans with their first detailed account of Bill’s early years and the trajectory leading to his criminal reign. However, following David Carradine’s passing in 2009, Tarantino would need to cast a new actor for Bill’s voice. In “Yuki’s Revenge,” Tarantino himself filled the role.
Possible Animated Tie-In for the Vega Brothers Saga
Beyond Kill Bill, Tarantino hinted at the potential for more animated ventures, including resurrecting the longstanding Vega Brothers idea. When prompted on collaborating further with motion capture and animation, he responded,
“I could see some world between this and Japanese anime that I could find some happy medium or, you know, between the things that I couldn’t physically do, like say the Vega Brothers movie, or something like that.”
Quentin Tarantino, Director & Writer.
The Vega Brothers project has long intrigued fans, as it would weave together Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs by focusing on Vincent Vega, played by John Travolta, and Vic Vega, portrayed by Michael Madsen. Tarantino once envisioned a narrative that bridges the gap between these iconic films and explores their brotherly dynamic, particularly during Vincent’s years in Amsterdam, where he managed a club for crime boss Marcellus, played by Ving Rhames.
“I don’t think I took it far enough for a story, but I had a premise,”
Quentin Tarantino, Director & Writer.
“He was running some club for Marcellus,”
Quentin Tarantino, Director & Writer.
“And so, he was probably there for a couple of years. At some point, in his two-year stay in Amsterdam, running some club, Vic shows up to visit him. And it would have been their weekend. Exactly what happens to them or what trouble they get into, I never took it that far.”
Quentin Tarantino, Director & Writer.
This movie stalled as the actors aged out of their roles, and Tarantino clarified he would not use digital de-aging. However, after working with animation on “Yuki’s Revenge,” he now sees an opportunity to pursue the Vega Brothers’ story without such constraints. The untimely death of Madsen, like that of Carradine, would also necessitate new voice talent for any revival of Vic Vega.
New Horizons for Tarantino’s Animated Vision
With both fans and fellow filmmakers watching closely, Quentin Tarantino’s ventures into animation signal a bold evolution of his storytelling methods. As audiences get ready for “Yuki’s Revenge” in Fortnite and theaters, anticipation grows about which forgotten stories or buried drafts might soon make the leap from page to screen in animated form. Whether through the untold life of Bill or a fresh take on the Vega Brothers, Tarantino’s animated projects could redefine how his dramatic and passionate narratives reach new generations.
