Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Joaquin Phoenix To Join Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Picture

Joaquin Phoenix may be making his first post retirement film in Paul Thomas Anderson's on and off again religious drama 'The Master.'

Anderson is directing from his own original script, which chronicles a disaffected disciple's relationship with the founder of a new faith that closely mirrors Scientology.

Hoffman will play Lancaster Dodd, a charismatic intellectual known as The Master, while Phoenix would play Freddie Sutton, an alcholic drifter who becomes his right-hand man only to begin questioning his manipulative mentor.

Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures is looking to co-finance the period pic, which Universal was previously considering funding before having second thoughts about its mid-range budget.