Laura Dern is an actress who never quite goes away, but never seems to be around that much either. However, now she has a new role, as Variety reports that Paul Thomas Anderson has officially cast her, along with Jesse Plemons and David Warshofsky, in his currently untitled upcoming movie, which was previously known as The Master. There was talk that Dern was in talks for this religious project earlier this month, but now she has officially signed on.
The story is loosely based on Scientology (although not so much that they can sue – although knowing Scientologists, they’ll try), centring on a man known only as The Master (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who creates a controversial belief system which gains a massive following. Joaquin Phoenix will play a drifter who becomes The Master’s second in command, although he starts to question his leader’s motives. It isn’t known what role Dern will play, although Jesse Plemons (TV’s Friday Night Lights) is portraying The Master’s son, while David Warshofsky (There Will Be Blood, Taken) is playing a police detective.
Paul Thomas Anderson will direct the project from his own original screenplay, with shooting scheduled to start in mid-June. It great it’s all coming together now, as the movie nearly died after Universal pulled out and Anderson had difficulty finding funding. Now he has the money he needs and it’s full-steam ahead!