Quentin Tarantino Plans Kill Bill Prequel: Is It Finally Happening?

Quentin Tarantino has consistently dismissed the idea of creating a third installment in the Kill Bill series. However, he has recently shown interest in the possibility of a prequel. This renewed interest coincides with several exciting events for the franchise, including the release of a previously omitted chapter from Kill Bill and limited-time screenings of The Whole Bloody Affair in select cinemas.

The Whole Bloody Affair combines Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 into a single, uninterrupted film that also features the animated short “The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge.” For those who prefer to view the animated tale of Yuki, Gogo Yubari’s sister, seeking vengeance on the Bride without committing to the full 4 hours and 41 minutes, the short film is also being released through Fortnite.

During a screening of “Yuki’s Revenge” at the Vista Theater owned by Tarantino in Los Angeles, Tarantino revisited a previously mentioned concept, confirming his interest in a prequel that would delve into Bill’s backstory. The narrative would focus on the trio of mentors who shaped Bill into a fearsome assassin. Tarantino humorously noted his uncertainty about living long enough to see this project come to life. His exact words were:

I have other commitments at the moment, but the idea of a Bill origin story has always intrigued me. I envisioned this backstory during the original Kill Bill production, exploring how Bill evolved into the character he is, guided by his three mentors: Esteban Vihaio, Pai Mei, and Hattori Hanzō. Whether I’ll get to realize this project is still up in the air.

Another unrealized project mentioned by Tarantino at the “Yuki’s Revenge” event involves a prequel centered around John Travolta’s character Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction and Michael Madsen’s Vic Vega from Reservoir Dogs. After inquiries about his future use of animation and motion-capture, Tarantino expressed:

There might be a middle ground between this project and Japanese anime that could suit me well, or perhaps for ideas that are unfeasible in live-action, like the Vega Brothers movie.

Although these potential prequels are not currently Tarantino’s main focus, his positive experience with “Yuki’s Revenge” and animation has kept his interest in these narratives alive. This comes at a time when the specifics of Tarantino’s next film project remain uncertain, particularly after he abandoned plans for The Movie Critic, which was intended to be his tenth and final film.

It is likely that Tarantino’s next movie will be a completely new concept, unrelated to his past works. Meanwhile, animation provides him a platform to further develop existing stories, from Bill’s origins to the Vega Brothers, potentially leading to new films or even a series.

Given the passing of David Carradine, the original actor for Bill, in 2009, a new voice would need to be cast for the character in a potential Kill Bill prequel. Tarantino himself voiced Bill in “Yuki’s Revenge” and might do so again, or alternatively, a different actor could be chosen. Additionally, since Michael Madsen, who also appeared in Reservoir Dogs and played Budd in Kill Bill: Vol. 2, passed away in 2025, his role would also need to be recast in any future Vega Brothers prequel.