On Friday, Variety reported on the behind-the-scenes drama concerning Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” Should we believe that there is currently some drama between Warner Bros and the filmmaker over the film’s final cut? That’s what one source told the outlet.
Filmmaker Boots Riley (“Sorry to Bother You”) is now defending Anderson and slams Variety’s reporting. He's saying none of it makes sense as “One Battle After Another” isn't even done post-production:
I texted with PTA yesterday and he told me the movie isn't done yet — so I question the sources in this article and also question the impetus for the existence of articles such as this. Who's pitching them and why?
I'm personally wondering if Boots even read the article. Nowhere does it mention that “One Battle After Another” has completed editing. Au contraire, Anderson shaved off 20 minutes from the original cut after test screening feedback, and who knows, maybe he’ll shorten the film further.
Sources inside Warner Bros. had told Variety that Anderson agreed to audience testing given the high budget of the film ($140M+). The same source also suggested DeLuca and Anderson were “fighting over the final cut of the film, which is running over 2.5 hours.”