How Tarantino came out of retirement for this film shot in six days in Deauville
The director will soon be starring in Only What We Carry, with Simon Pegg, Sofia Boutella and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
“He is an exceptional actor. Naturally gifted. I’m proud that the film gives him the opportunity to show it.“
In a long interview given to VarietyWelsh director Jamie Adams talks about how he brought Quentin Tarantino out of retirement for his new feature film, Only What We Carrywhere he shares the bill with Simon Pegg, Sofia Boutella and Charlotte Gainsbourg. The filmmaker’s first major role since A Night in Hell30 years ago!
Jamie Adams is an ultra-prolific director who shoots his films in a few days, relying on improvisation. In just over ten years, he has already signed 10 feature films, attracting prestigious actors like James McAvoy, Martin Freeman and Malin Akerman. Only What We Carry was filmed in six days in Deauville, with a single camera, at the end of summer 2025.
Adams says he attracted Simon Pegg thanks to Martin Freeman. Sofia Boutella and Charlotte Gainsbourg then joined the adventure, and the idea of recruiting Tarantino came to her after seeing him do a series of interviews at Sundance and Cannes, in 2024, then abandon his film project which would become The Adventures of Cliff Boothultimately directed by David Fincher.
“I told myself he was in a moment of contemplation. I also knew that acting was his first passion. When I was young, it was accepted that he wanted to play. He has the first dialogue in Reservoir Dogs. So I invoked this facet.”
Adams sent him the outline of the story (“30 pages of scenes without dialogue“) accompanied by a letter praising QT’s acting talents and his desire to have him improvise. Without really believing it. But two weeks later, he was contacted by his agent. Tarantino was intrigued and wanted to speak to him on Zoom.
“I had the worst toothache of my life. My dentist told me it was nothing, that I was somatizing. I was terrified. Then I logged in and when I heard his voice I was transported. It’s like going to Disneyland for a director.”
In Only What We CarrySimon Pegg plays Julian Johns, a former dance teacher and Sofia Boutella is Charlotte Levant, a former student. Tarantino plays John Percy, an old friend of Julian, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Charlotte’s protective sister.
Jamie Adams describes the shoot as a “holiday camp. No ego, no special treatment, everyone had breakfast together“. 36 hours of rush were filmed in six days, and the filmmaker is currently working on the edit which should result in an 85-90 minute film. He is full of praise for Tarantino’s attitude:
“The real question is would I allow myself to direct it. He came because he knew he was going to be bossed around. In improvised films, direction is more about having an ongoing conversation about character and story rather than micromanaging performance. It’s thematic. He was wonderful. Collaborative. He loves actors, he loves the history of cinema. He was excited to be in France doing something Rohmer-inspired.”
Adams now dreams of casting Scorsese in one of his films. “It’s time for directors who really want to be actors to come in and improvise. Truffaut was a great actor. Many of them are frustrated actors. I love that some people take the plunge.”
Only What We Carry is notably produced by Frenchman Charles Benoin for Atlas Pictures. The film does not yet have a release date.
