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[News Thetan]

Renner to Join Cruise in 'M:I:4'; Will PTA's Scientology Film Matter? - TheWrap
26 August 2010, 2:36 pm



You can't say that Paramount, director Brad Bird, producer J.J. Abrams and star Tom Cruise -- aka the team behind "Mission: Impossible 4" -- don't have great taste.

Just as the talented Anthony Mackie was set to screen test for the studio, his Oscar-nominated "Hurt Locker" co-star Jeremy Renner has been cast alongside Cruise in the sequel, an individual familiar with the project has confirmed to TheWrap.

The next step in the casting process with be finding a female lead for the sequel, as Deal Central has learned that Michelle Monaghan is not expected to return as Cruise's wife, who saved his life at the end of the third film.

Paramount has been looking to cast an actor who could potentially carry the series, should the focus of the franchise shift away from Cruise's team leader Ethan Hunt, who is expected to return for a fifth installment if "M:I:4" proves to be a hit. The 39-year-old Renner certainly fits that bill.

The studio reportedly considered "Star Trek" star Chris Pine and "Inception" actor Tom Hardy, but both of them were booked, though quite frankly, Renner is a much more interesting choice.

Speaking of schedules, Renner had been keeping his open in order to play an alcoholic drifter in need of spiritual guidance in Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming movie about the leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of a religion that bares more than a little resemblance to Scientology. I wonder how Renner's proposed participation in that picture will go over with famed Scientologist Cruise?

more at http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/renner-join-cruise-mi4-will-ptas-scientology-film-matter-20420

[News Thetan]

Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientolgy Movie and Inherent Vice Adaptation Close to ... - New York Magazine
10 February 2011, 7:19 pm



Good news, highbrow literary/cinema aficionados! Vulture is happy to report that billionairess Megan Ellison, the 25-year-old daughter of Oracle boss Larry Ellison, appears to be coming to the rescue of two high-profile Paul Thomas Anderson movies: a foundering untitled Scientology drama (which may or may not end up being called The Master), and Anderson’s adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 2009 stoner detective novel, Inherent Vice.

Last December, this blog was the first to report that Anderson had written a treatment of Pynchon’s seventh novel, and was considering doing a screenplay. Now insiders confirm to Vulture that Anderson has, in fact, obtained the blessing of Pynchon and — in frequent consultation with the eremite novelist himself — has not only written a first draft, but is more than halfway done with a second. (For those unfamiliar, it tells the story of Larry "Doc" Sportello, a pothead private detective hired by a former girlfriend to investigate the disappearance of her wealthy lover in 1969 Los Angeles.) Robert Downey, Jr. is said to be interested in the lead role, and insiders point out that his recent detachment from Sam Raimi's Oz, the Great and Powerful, set up at Disney, leaves an opening in his schedule in the fourth quarter of this year.

more at http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/02/paul_thomas_anderson.html

[News Thetan]

Joaquin Phoenix in Talks for Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology Drama - New York Magazine
12 April 2011, 6:54 pm




Perhaps he was just holding out for a big fish: Variety reports that the actor is in talks to join The Master, Paul Thomas Anderson's thinly veiled Scientology drama which found financing in February. If he signs, he'd play the roughneck apprentice to ...

more at http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/joaquin_phoenix_in_talks_for_p.html

[mefree]

More at http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blogs/popcornbiz/Phoenix-Rising-for-Paul-Thomas-Andersons-Scientology-Pic-119763009.html

[RedShieldwolf]

Jeremy Renner was at one point attached to the role, but has since gone on to film Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol with high-profile Scientologist Tom Cruise.

ಠ__ಠ

[mefree]

ಠ__ಠ

LOL

Joaquin Phoenix should be a nice addition to the cast if he accepts the role.

[News Thetan]

Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology Movie Bought By Weinstein Company - Huffington Post
9 May 2011, 4:39 pm



It's not uncommon for a film to hit out at organized religion, but a long-gestating Paul Thomas Anderson script is ready to do the uncomfortable: take on, in metaphor, the Hollywood-centric Church of Scientology.

Deadline reports that Anderson's proposed film, once under the working title, "The Master," but now without a name, has had its worldwide distribution rights bought by the Weinstein Company following a multi-studio bidding war. It guarantees a global audience for the film, which will star Philip Seymour Hoffman as a man who creates a religion in 1952, and Joaquin Phoenix as his second in command.

The film, which begins shooting in June, is a long time coming; the script was finished in 2009 and then shelved before the recent movement. According to Variety, the first iteration centered on the relationship between The Master (Hoffman's character) and Freddie (the lieutenant, to be played by Phoenix. "As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor," the industry daily reported.

more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/09/paul-thomas-andersons-scientology-movie_n_859646.html

[mefree]

Also covered by Catholic Online at http://www.catholic.org/ae/movies/review.php?id=41368

[RedShieldwolf]

I have to admit, I am excited for the release of this movie. But one thing I read gives me pause.

From the Variety article:

Anderson's treatment of religion was cynical in "There Will Be Blood." Here, the scrutiny isn't specifically directed toward faith-based movements like Scientology or Mormonism that are newcomers compared to established religions. Anderson explores the need to believe in a higher power, the choice of which to embrace, and the point at which a belief system graduates into a religion.

Why does this need to be treated like a religion? Simply because it is a system of beliefs and practices does not make it a religion. There are many reasons for this:

1. Religions do not lie about (most do not even make a claim to) being compatible with other religions. One can explore other faiths, perhaps even take in aspects of other faiths. But at some point you have to make a decision regarding your beliefs. Exempli gratia: One may be a Jewish Christian or a Pauline Christian, but not a Jew and a Christian. In the same respect, one cannot be both a Upper Level Scientologist and a Roman Catholic. At some point, you have to choose. Scientology attempts to obscure this choice until you have become a Scientologist.

2. Religions have a defined doctrine of some sort. Dianetics and OTIII are the only aspects of Scientology that might be considered Scientology doctrine. However, Dianetics is marketed as being separate from Scientology and people are purposefully not made aware of Xenu before becoming Scientologists.

3. Scientology did not start out as a religion. In fact, L. Ron Hubbard stated in the 1954 edition of The Creation of Human Ability that Scientology was "not a psycho-therapy nor a religion". In order to earn tax benefits, L. Ron Hubbard made minor changes in his self-help regimen known as Dianetics and created Scientology. Depending on location and convenience, Scientology registers as either a business or a religion. And it is run very much like a business.

I could go on and on. Once you have done your research, it is clear that Scientology is not a religion. It is a business cult pretending to be a religion.

Personally, I was looking forward to a period piece, not a religious commentary. Making it so only furthers the mainstream acceptance of Scientology as a religion. This is NOT what we want accomplished.

[mefree]

You can blame it on Hubbard. He wanted to make Scientology into a religion for money-making purposes.
http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/scientology/start.a.religion.html

[ethercat]

I could go on and on. Once you have done your research, it is clear that Scientology is not a religion. It is a business SCAM cult pretending to be a religion.

Fixed that for you.   

Personally, I was looking forward to a period piece, not a religious commentary. Making it so only furthers the mainstream acceptance of Scientology as a religion. This is NOT what we want accomplished.

Think of how much worse it is for a religion to behave the way scientology does than it would be for a business to do it.   

I do agree with you, but I guess we'll have to wait and see how it actually is when the movie comes out.  It could change again, before then.

[mefree]

Amy Adams is signing on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/amy-adams-joins-paul-thomas-anderson-scientology-film_n_869928.html

[News Thetan]

Will PT Anderson's next movie still be about Scientology? - io9
2 June 2011, 4:57 pm



Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled next film starts shooting soon, and the trickle of casting announcements is making it sound like a fantastic movie. But one question remains: Just how much did Anderson tone down the movie's Scientology references?

We've read the early script draft that was making the rounds last year, and it's full of weird little nods to L. Ron Hubbard's early doctrines, not to mention parallels with Hubbard's own life. After Universal Pictures passed on financing the movie, there was lots of speculation about the reasons for Universal's decision. And then a month ago, the Weinstein Co. picked up the movie formerly known as The Master, but reports suggested that Anderson had "greatly overhauled" the script.

So has the movie been revamped to remove any parallels between Philip Seymour Hoffman's 1950s religious leader and L. Ron Hubbard? We'll find out in late 2012. But for now, here's what we believe.

First of all, the very early script draft we read is definitely rough around the edges, but contains a lot of demented greatness. And as The Playlist pointed out in its script review ages ago, the Hubbard parallels are hard to miss. Hoffman's religious leader, the Master, lives on a boat and has a family similar to Hubbard's of the early 1950s. Hoffman's character is a writer of successful books who talks a lot about other galaxies and secrets going back trillions of years. A lot of his teachings have to do with going back in time and mastering your traumatic memories, and removing the programming that was added to your disembodied self millions of years ago. There are hints about an intergalactic war.

Will P.T. Anderson's next movie still be about Scientology? But as you'd expect, the script isn't just a straight-up spoof of Scientology, nor does the greatness in the script really stem from an indictment of Hubbard. Rather, it's a beautiful look at the dynamics of a religious leader and his followers, the mechanics of creating a new faith, and the ways in which the trauma of war can lead to alcoholism and a need to believe in something. But most of all, it's incredibly weird and reminiscent of Pynchon (whose seventh novel Anderson is also adapting) and other literary surrealists. One of the film's MacGuffins is a book that either kills or drives insane everyone who reads it, which seems reminiscent of Infinite Jest's deadly video tape.

more at http://io9.com/5807948/will-pt-andersons-next-movie-still-be-about-scientology

[mefree]

Semi-spoiler alert.

[News Thetan]

Malek converts to PT Anderson pic - Variety
3 June 2011, 4:38 pm



EXCLUSIVE: Having recently wrapped "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part II," Rami Malek has signed on for Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled religious drama.

Malek will play the son-in-law of the main character, the creator of a new faith that closely mirrors Scientology (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Joaquin Phoenix co-stars as an alcoholic drifter who becomes his right-hand man and disciple.

Hoffman and Amy Adams have a sassy, 19-year-old daughter in the film; Malek will play her husband, Clark.

Other confirmed cast members include Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons and David Warshofsky.

more at http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118038034?refCatId=13

[News Thetan]

Controversial Hollywood movie to begin filming in Vallejo - San Jose Mercury News
7 June 2011, 9:02 pm

Scenes from a film starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix that already has stirred controversy in Hollywood are being shot this month in Vallejo.

While film industry websites say the as-yet untitled Paul Thomas Anderson feature film is loosely based on the late Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, a production company official denied that to a reporter.

The spokeswoman also asked that specific filming locations for the movie not be published.

A film industry website describes the project as "a 1950s-set drama centered on the relationship between a charismatic intellectual known as 'the Master' whose faith-based organization begins to catch on in America, and a young drifter who becomes his right-hand man."

In denying any connection to Hubbard, Western Film Co., LLC's Joanne Sellar said, "It's a World War II drama. It's about a drifter after World War II."

more at http://www.mercurynews.com/celebrities/ci_18225797?nclick_check=1

[RedShieldwolf]

They're removing Scientology references? This film is turning into cancer.


I suppose you're right, ethercat. Right now it is all speculation. We'll have to wait and see when it comes out.

But if the film keeps changing in this manner, I might actually be protesting the film's release.

[News Thetan]

Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood Scoring Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘The Master’
5 December 2011, 3:11 pm
Posted on Monday, December 5th, 2011 by Russ Fischer

After what seems like years of speculation and delays, Paul Thomas Anderson is in post-production on The Master, his film that is either a lot or a little inspired by the life and work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The movie stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as the title character, with Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern and many more appearing as well.

And now it seems that Anderson has turned to Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood to score the film, just as he did with There Will Be Blood.

The Greenwood score to There Will Be Blood contributed in no small fashion to that film’s power, so there is ample reason to anticipate this new score.

more at http://www.slashfilm.com/jonny-greenwood-scoring-paul-thomas-andersons-the-master/

[mefree]

Additional coverage:

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/166168/jonny-greenwood-will-score-paul-thomas-andersons-scientology-movie-the-master/

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/12/jonny-greenwood-to-score-the-master.html

[thetanbuster]

Is this expected to be a positive review of Hubbard, or the Truth?