We can all rejoice with the news that Paul Thomas Anderson will begin production on his long-awaited, oft-delayed follow-up to There Will Be Blood next month. What’s more, it would now appear that The Weinstein Company has won the bidding battle for worldwide distribution rights to the picture.
Formally entitled The Master, both Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix (in a role originally earmarked for Jeremy Renner) are both on board for this period piece, which is said to be a thinly-veiled account of Scientologist founder L. Ron Hubbard, although Deadline are reporting that the script has since been reworked, so that element may not be as evident in the new version.
Good to see the Weinstein’s will be putting their considerable weight behind it, and due to a final-cut clause in Anderson’s contract (he’s had it since Boogie Nights!) he (and all his fans) can rest easy in the knowing his vision will remain intact!
