We’d been wondering which festival Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” might make its world premiere at this fall. Turns out, it’ll be nowhere.
A source close to the situation tells me that Warner Bros. has made the decision to skip all the major fall festivals for “One Battle After Another,” including Venice, Telluride, and TIFF.
In a way, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Although Anderson’s earlier films made festival bows — including “Punch-Drunk Love” and “The Master” — he’s soured on them over the past decade.
Still, the absence of “One Battle After Another” from the fall fests will certainly raise eyebrows. The reasons behind the decision remain unclear, but speculation is inevitable.
There are a few possibilities: the film might not be finished in time, or WB could be aiming for a different kind of rollout — perhaps still haunted by the toxic reception “Joker: Folie à Deux” received at last year’s Venice. There’s also the possibility that Anderson himself is opting for a quieter release.
Warner Bros. has not officially commented, and neither has Anderson’s camp.
Whatever the reasoning, it’s a bold move for WB and PTA — bypassing the fall festivals means missing out on the kind of early critical buzz and awards-season momentum that typically starts on the Lido or in the Rockies. With a reported budget north of $150M, the film could have certainly benefited from the spotlight of a major festival launch.
“One Battle After Another” is set to hit theaters on September 26.