Paul Thomas Anderson is returning to high school (and the San Fernando Valley) for his next film
Aux Features Film
After unpacking the haute luxuries of 1950s London with 2017's Phantom Thread, the great Paul Thomas Anderson will jump ahead a few decades for a decidedly different period tale. His latest film, per The Hollywood Reporter, evokes one of the defining films of one of his contemporaries, Richard Linklater, in that it’s a ‘70s-set high school story with a massive ensemble.
But while Dazed And Confused was set in Linklater’s Texas stomping grounds, Anderson’s will be set in the San Fernando Valley scene where he came of age. Per THR, Anderson’s story, which he is writing in addition to directing and producing, will center around a student who’s also a successful child actor. The project is enticing, as the concept stands in stark contrast to the cruel, larger-than-life men who led films like There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Phantom Thread.
Casting is currently underway and production is scheduled to begin in 2020.
19 Comments
Ahh, the Robby Benson, Valerie Bertinelli, Scott Baio, Kristy McNichol Once Upon A Time in Glendale epic we never knew we wanted.
Robby Benson. Shut. Up. I swear to God I just watched The Death of Richie on YouTube last weekend.
Inexplicable to me that he is not focusing on making Carole Lombard-like starring vehicles for Maya Rudolph
No
We all know this will be the Haim sisters’ first step towards Oscar gold.
Calling it:
gritty Sweet Valley High reboot.
So Boogie Nights 2 High School Boogaloo?
Anyone at anytime who adds the word 2 & boogaloo, gets my star.Boogaloo is one of those “sounds racist, but not quite is”.
More like Magnolia Origins: Quiz Kid Donnie Smith.
Something, something, PTA meeting. This sounds great, one of my favourite directors working in perhaps my favourite sub-genre. Now if it could somehow star Humphrey Bogart and Laura Dern I’d be perfectly willing to call it the best film I’ve ever seen.
They can just CGI Humphrey Bogart in like they’re doing with James Dean!
Oof, don’t joke. There’s a Tesco Clubcard advert running at the minute that overdubs the final scene from Casablanca. I’m of the opinion that everyone involved should be shipped off to a gulag.
Your comment makes a note of the equivalence of the director’s initials and the acronym for “Parent-Teacher Association”. This has been noted.
Anderson next project will be about 14 strangers, spread across the SFV who set out on journey to discover who farted in an elevator ride in 1970s California.Im in.
I love PTA movies, from the hyper “movie” entertainment of Boogie Nights to the slower movies he makes now (Phantom Thread really lingered with me, such a good movie). I’m hoping this one goes back to something more “commercial” though. I do miss PTA actually trying to engage a larger audience, even though I love his later movies too (and for everyone who goes crazy over Phoenix as the Joker, his performance in “The Master” is easily his best role.).
Am a huge PTA fan, but was disappointed in “Phantom Thread”. Just didn’t care if the weird dress designer found happiness. Hope this one is better.
Fingers crossed Daniel Day Lewis will come out of retirement to play the child actor.
I do wonder whether this guy makes sure to emphasize the “Thomas” in his name so as not to get confused with Paul W.S. Anderson any time he’s out.
My absolute favourite thing Paul Thomas Anderson ever did is making me giggle whenever I encounter the word “nevertheless”.