Update: The Wrap report that Martin Short and Jena Malone have also joined the cast.
It’s lost to the mists of time now, but when the project first emerged, there was talk that Reese Witherspoon was going to appear in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “The Master,” as Peggy, the manipulative wife of Lancaster Dodd. For whatever reason (let’s hope it wasn’t a scheduling conflict with “This Means War“), it didn’t come to pass (Amy Adams took the role), but it seems like Witherspoon and PTA are still mutual admirers, as Deadline bring news that the actress has just signed on to the director’s new project, “Inherent Vice.”
The actress — who’s had a flurry of activity of late, after making tabloid headlines for her recent arrest — joins Joaquin Phoenix, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson and Kevin J Anderson as the signed cast so far. There’s no confirmation as to who she’ll playing, but our guess is that she’ll be Shasta Fay Hepworth, the ex girlfriend of Doc Sportello (Phoenix), who sets the plot in motion, though she could also be Hope Harlingen, the supposed widow of missing musician Coy. It’s also a “Walk The Line” reunion of sorts as Phoenix and Reese both took their excellent chemistry all the way to the Oscars (she won, he got nominated).
Anyway, it’s good news for Witherspoon, who’s course-correcting after a series of disappointments by working with the likes of Jeff Nichols (on current sleeper hit “Mud,”) Atom Egoyan (on “Devil’s Knot“) and PTA. Filming gets underway any day now, and Warner Bros will be releasing the picture, hopefully some time in 2014.
MARTIN SHORT IN PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON LAND? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I was hoping for Andrea Martin as Aunt Reet, but this will definitely do. I can't wait to see Robert Elswit's light on his face. Forget whatever horrible dogshit he's been in for the better part of the last three decades. He was on SCTV. He's Jackie Rogers Jr. He's Brock Linahan. He's Ed Grimley.
I'm not the biggest Reese Witherspoon fan. I would preferred Kirsten Dunst. But I'll go with it. I'm sure she'll come off great.
Jena Malone is a great pic. She's great in The Messenger. And Donnie Darko. She seems crazy, which is perfect for this part.
All these big names is making this feel more and more like a sprawling, late 60's Atlman-y, but also kinda "Candy"-ish thing. Pynchon's book is drenched with an anything-goes sensibility which would pair up with this style of psychedelic La Ronde kinda of filmmaking, like a nice wine and cheese, so I'm psyched. Edelecized.
I wonder who's gonna do the music. My vote wouldn't be Jonny Greenwood necessarily. Or Jon Brion. But someone like Van Dyke Parks. Or Donald Fagen. Or Marvin Hamlisch if he was still alive. Or David Sitek from TV on the Radio. Or Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine. Or Avey Tare.
I would so love to make a Thomas Pynchon movie. The thickness you could put in it. The downright psychedelic density. I would love to tread in these waters. Love to swim in that soup.
Someday I will make a movie that doesn't have cum in it.
I promise.
(would also love to have Panda Bear do this soundtrack, in the style of "Person Pitch")
OMFG Martin Short.
sean penn and jim carrey are on board
Hopefully she brings more than one spoon
I think Charlize Theron is perfect for Shasta and Reese Witherspoon for the mother.
It went a yards reunion to a walk the line reunion.
Malone is playing Coy according to the wrap, shes the dame that asks Doc for help.
I hope Short plays Mickey Wolfman and Reese plays the D.A chick ( if reese plays the D.A chick thats a great fit
I am suprised more people arent at del toro. Yes hes amazing but the Sancho is like mid Twenties -late twenties,del toro looks 40
honestly i would much rather have witherspoon than theron, i have no idea whether they were up for the same part, but remembering pleasantville, election, walk the line, and honestly legally blonde (im not saying the movie's a gem, but come on, she gives a pretty awesome performance) i welcome this news with open arms. she can be pretty fcuking good when given the right material, whereas theron is (excluding monster obviously) rarely anything but a pretty face. im not saying she's bad she's just always…. charlize theron
We're not sure if she sets to play Shasta.I think it'd be better she plays Hope(But Hope is not a big part,too small to use A listers).Speaking of the age,I think Theron is a little older for Shasta,too.I was hoping PTA could bring a younger face here for Shasta,but…you know,I trust his choice.As for Bigfoot,would PTA pick Philip Seymour Hoffman again?
Still want Michael Shannon to play Bigfoot.
Although Joaquin and Witherspoon have established past chemistry, I was hoping for someone who could fulfill a 'Femme Fatale' role more efficiently, Cotillard would be a prime example. I mean Reese isn't the most subversive or lucrative vixen to have graced us on the screen.
Forget about Reese — MARTIN SHORT IS IN THIS!
This is a great part for Witherspoon. She'll be excellent in this. I think this latest string of films she's been working on will revive her career. So glad she's doing great films again. Welcome back, Reese.
Please! Recast her!
Isn't Joaquin's character supposed to be 28 in the novel? No one complained he was too old when it was announced he had been cast. I'm actually glad PTA aged up the role if Witherspoon is playing Shasta. Their aren't enough major films where an actor over the age of 35 is paired up with a female love interest that's around the same age (Reese is only two years younger than Joaquin). Anyways, Witherspoon has proved that she's capable of excellent work (Election, Walk The Line, Freeway and Legally Blonde) so I'm quite intrigued to see her take on Shasta…
Ugh. PTA should really be a little more inspired in his casting.
PTA made a masterpiece of a rom-com starring Adam Sandler. I'm not worried one bit.
I'm cool with this.
It's Kevin J. O'Connor. (Duh.)
Who's peen did her husband suck to get her this role?
Dang. I definitely would have preferred someone younger for Shasta (that's who she'll play for sure) but Reese CAN be really good if the material is there (I personally loved her in Election and Freeway). Whatever I'm sure PTA knows what he's doing. Now we just need to find out who's playing Bigfoot (please, please be Daniel Day Lewis).
Agreed with most of the comments below- this is bad news. Theron >>>>> Witherspoon… Also, let's hope that Witherspoon is not set to play Shasta and will take on a smaller role? All I know is, Witherspoon wouldn't have given half the performance Adams had in The Master.
worst news ever
Fuck. I was happier with the idea of Theron + Phoenix + PT Anderson.
She's much older than I pictured Shasta but I guess since they aged up Doc, they had to age up everyone.
She could be Sloane Wolfmann but that's a pretty small part.
walk the line reunion