Paul Thoman Anderson hasn’t had the best luck with his last two movies.
Phantom Threadand Licorice Pizzahad a disappointing theatrical run, making back each film’s respective budgets, but not making a big enough profit for PTA to take a big risk with his next period piece.
On The Hot Mic with Jeff and Jonpodcast, Jeff Sneider had some big insider information to share. With PTA needing to make a movie that pulls larger audiences into the theater, the director is looking to team up with Leonardo DiCaprio in his untitled crime film.
This untitled project is being kept a secret, but an industry insider revealed to Sneider that PTA was holding secret auditions in Hollywood to cast his film. What we do know about the film is that the production will take place this summer in and around Los Angeles, which is expected from the filmmaker who is obsessed with his hometown in the San Fernando Valley.
'Licorice Pizza'Credit: United Artist Releasing/Metro-Goldwyn Mayer
DiCaprio’s casting has not been confirmed by anyone from PTA or the actor’s team, so we're still holding our breaths on this one.
DiCaprio has been collaborating with A-list filmmakers for the last 20 years, working closely with Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Ridley Scott, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and Quentin Tarantino. PTA is one of the few A-list filmmakers that DiCaprio hasn’t worked with, but the opportunity was on the table at least once before.
PTA wanted DiCaprio to star in the filmmaker’s debut feature, Boogie Nights. DiCaprio famously regrets turning down PTA’s offer to star in the film as Dirk Diggler, who was eventually played by Mark Wahlberg in a career-defining role, because the young actor was busy filming James Cameron’s Titanic.
With DiCaprio’s father making a cameo in Licorice Pizza, it is safe to say that DiCaprio has already been in conversations with PTA about finding a project to make together soon. Maybe that future is closer than we thought.
What do you think of the collaboration? Let us know in the comments!
