Last month, Puck’s Matt Belloni turned many heads when he said that Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film might be “punted” to 2026. Although Belloni is as reliable as film journalists get, we haven’t heard anything official from Warner Bros about a date change.
Belloni is now tackling the topic again, via podcast and print, doubling down on it, and claiming that it’s quite simply what he’s “heard.” Warner Bros are “considering” a move to 2026. For the moment, the studio is denying it, but things could change at the flick of a switch.
The question that should be asked is why Warner Bros would want to delay ‘Baktan Cross’? This is a $140M gamble for them as PTA has never really proven himself to be a box office draw; Then again, ‘Baktan Cross’ star Leonardo DiCaprio has.
Whether PTA’s film actually keeps its August 8 release date remains to be seen, but it’s an odd slot for it to open — during the waning days of summer. If Warners want this one to have a festival bow, not to mention a larger audience, then maybe it’d be best to place it a little after the Cannes Film Festival, in June or July. Regardless of quality, ‘Baktan’ and PTA would get the respect and clout needed on the Croisette.
Warners‘ 2025 slate is packed with auteur-driven gambles. Some of them will likely not pay off, but their risk-taking is nevertheless admirable. Which other studio has greenlit a slew of pricey non-IP projects?
They gave the somewhat unproven Maggie Gyllenhaal a $100M budget for “The Bride.” Bong Joon-ho’s “Mickey 17” cost anywhere between $118-$140M. Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” cost $90M. Other projects include Barry Levinson’s “Alto Knights” ($80M), and James Gunn’s “Superman” ($300M?).