After years of speculation, the cast for Paul Thomas Anderson's next feature is finally taking shape. Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall are set to lead the film, which begins production on January 21 in California, according to Deadline. The project, written by Anderson, has been in development since 2022, with an initial target of a summer 2023 start, but delays caused by industry-wide strikes pushed the schedule to this month.
Details about the plot remain under wraps, but Anderson has confirmed the story is set in the present day, putting an end to rumors that it might adapt Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland. The film is described as Anderson's most commercially oriented endeavor to date, with a budget that could reach $100 million, as reported by Variety. This scale suggests a larger ensemble, and more casting announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
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Return to Warner Bros.
This project also marks Anderson's reunion with Warner Bros., his distributor for Inherent Vice in 2014. The studio has not yet set a release date, but given the production timeline, a 2025 premiere seems plausible. Anderson's previous film, Phantom Thread, began shooting in early 2017 and hit theaters by December of that year, but the larger scope of this production may require a longer post-production period.
For DiCaprio, this collaboration is a long time coming. He famously turned down a role in Anderson's 1997 breakout Boogie Nights to star in James Cameron's Titanic. Now, he finally gets to work with the acclaimed director. DiCaprio hinted at the 2024 Golden Globes that he was preparing for a new role, though he did not specify the project at the time.
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The combination of DiCaprio, Penn, and Hall under Anderson's direction has generated considerable buzz, given the trio's diverse filmographies and Anderson's reputation for crafting character-driven stories. As production gets underway, audiences can expect more details about the plot and additional cast members to emerge.
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