Cinephiles and film lovers alike have been buzzing with excitement as Paul Thomas Anderson's latest project, The Battle of Baktan Cross, wrapped up production earlier this month in El Paso, Texas. Although plot details remain under wraps, the film has all the hallmarks of a major event, boasting a reported budget of $140M-$175M and an ensemble cast filled with Hollywood heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Alana Haim.
What's piqued even more curiosity is the rumor mill pointing towards this film being a modern-day adaptation of Vineland, a cult-favorite novel by Thomas Pynchon. Anderson has been known to adapt Pynchon's work before (Inherent Vice), and Vineland's surreal commentary on American culture seems like fertile ground for his auteur sensibilities.
Slated for an August 8, 2025 release, The Battle of Baktan Cross marks Anderson's biggest foray into mainstream cinema to date. Not only does it feature “the biggest stunts of Anderson's career,” but it's also being shot in glorious 35mm VistaVision, an old-school format that will undoubtedly lend an epic scope to the action sequences. Michael Bauman is serving as director of photography, while Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead) is composing the score, continuing his long-running collaboration with Anderson.
For a director known for more intimate, character-driven narratives, this project could signal a new era for Anderson. With whispers of large-scale action sequences, the film could bring Anderson's unique storytelling to a broader audience, proving that even the most artful filmmakers can embrace spectacle without losing their signature style.
The anticipation is palpable—August 2025 can't come soon enough.
