Finally, Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film has a title, “The Battle of Baktan Cross.” The film was previously shooting under the working title “BC Project” (via TheInSneider).
Throughout the shoot of this film, we’ve seen the city of Baktan Cross featured throughout leaked photos and videos, seen on building signage and police cars. As far as the etymology of the word “Baktan,” it seems to relate to the cycles of the Mayan calendar.
In the past, "Phantom Thread” was a working title which PTA decided to keep, whereas “Soggy Bottom” was a working title that got replaced by “Licorice Pizza”. So, “Baktan Cross” could be the final title, or a placeholder.
Warner Bros. greenlit PTA’s latest for a budget that was originally reported to be in the $100-$125M range. Some, including Jeff Sneider, believe it to be along the lines of $175M. The film is said to be PTA’s most “mainstream” to date, with rumors pointing towards a loosely inspired riff on Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland.” What we’ve noticed so far, from on-set leaks, is that the film is heavy on action, with lots of car chase scenes.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in PTA’s latest alongside Regina Hall, Chase Infiniti, and Sean Penn, plus Benicio del Toro, Wood Harris, Teyana Taylor, and Alana Haim. The film is due in theaters on August 8, 2025.
PTA’s last film was 2021’s pandemic-shot “Licorice Pizza.” It was released to positive reviews and received three Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.