At the Sundance Film Festival on Monday, Quentin Tarantino reminded the world that even legendary directors have a personal side. The Pulp Fiction auteur, known for his uncompromising vision and love for the cinematic craft, revealed he’s in no rush to helm his tenth and final film. Instead, he’s choosing to focus on being a father while exploring new creative ventures, including writing a play.

In conversation with Elvis Mitchell during “The Elvis Suite,” a weekend-long series of cinema talks, Tarantino struck an unexpectedly tender tone. “I’m in no hurry to actually jump into production,” he said, addressing why he hasn’t returned to the director’s chair in recent years.

The reason? His children. “Next month, my son turns 5, and I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter,” Tarantino shared. “When I’m in America, I’m writing. When I’m in Israel? I’m an abba,” he said, using the Hebrew word for father.

Tarantino’s decision to pause his directorial career stems from a heartfelt desire to ensure his children can actively engage in the process. “The idea of jumping on a voyage when they’re too young to understand it is not enticing to me,” he explained. “I kind of want to not do whatever movie I end up doing until my son is at least 6. That way he’ll know what’s going on, he’ll be there, and it will be a memory for the rest of his life.”

Though he’s stepping away from film production for now, Tarantino hasn’t hit the brakes on creativity. “If you’re wondering what I’m doing right now, I’m writing a play,” he announced, hinting that the theatrical project could pave the way for his next film—or even become his swan song.

Tarantino’s embrace of theater marks a significant departure from his decades-long dedication to cinema. The director acknowledged the unique challenges and rewards of the medium, saying, “That’s a big fucking deal, pulling [a play] off, and I don’t know if I can. So here we go. That’s a challenge—a genuine challenge.”

While Tarantino’s reflections on fatherhood and theater were heartfelt, his comments on the state of cinema were fiery and unfiltered. Responding to Mitchell’s question about his place in today’s movie landscape, Tarantino unleashed a passionate critique of the modern film industry.

“Well, what the fuck is a movie now?” Tarantino said, his voice rising. “What—something that plays in theaters for a token release for four fucking weeks? And by the second week, you can watch it on television. I didn’t get into all this for diminishing returns.”

The filmmaker lamented the rapid decline of theatrical releases, calling 2019 “the last fucking year of movies” and decrying the dominance of streaming services. “It’s a show pony exercise now,” he said, comparing the theatrical release model to an afterthought.

In contrast, Tarantino sees theater as the “final frontier” of storytelling, a medium that demands audience commitment and cannot be diluted by streaming platforms. “Theater? You can’t do that. It’s the final frontier,” he said, underscoring his growing enthusiasm for live performance.

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Tarantino’s comments at Sundance revealed a filmmaker grappling with legacy and the passage of time. While his love for cinema remains evident, his focus has shifted to creating lasting memories for his children.

His daughter, he noted, “is already such a genius, she’ll just get it.” For his son, the decision to delay his next film is deeply personal. “I want him to be old enough to understand it, to remember it. It’s important to me that it becomes a memory for the rest of his life,” Tarantino said.

Tarantino’s future projects remain shrouded in mystery, but his enthusiasm for theater and storytelling is undiminished. As he continues to write his play, fans and critics alike are left wondering if his next creative endeavor will indeed mark the end of his filmmaking career.

At Sundance, Tarantino offered a rare glimpse into his evolving priorities as both an artist and a father. While his critiques of modern cinema were scathing, his reflections on family life and his openness to new creative challenges painted a picture of a man who is not afraid to adapt and grow.

Whether his next project is on stage or screen, one thing is certain: Quentin Tarantino’s commitment to storytelling—whether for his audience or his children—remains as fierce as ever.