Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Reese Witherspoon, Martin Short & Jena Malone Join ‘Inherent Vice'


Filming set to get underway on "Inherent Vice" in just under 2 weeks but despite a huge ensemble of around 25 players, we've only gotten word of a handful of actors attached so far: Joaquin Phoenix, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro and Kevin J. O'Connor. Rumors have swirled in the last few weeks as to who would take the female lead. Charlize Theron had supposedly been interested in the part (and PTA likewise interested to work with her) but we posited back in February that would be out of the running due to her commitments to Seth MacFarlane's western and the highly anticipated adaptation of "Dark Places." It was also rumored that Kirsten Dunst (who PTA had recommended to Lars Von Trier for the part in "Melancholia") might be circling the role since she too had expressed an interest in working with PTA.

It would appear that both of those actresses are now out of the running as Deadline reports that Reese Witherspoon -- who's been picking up projects left and right these past few weeks -- has signed on. Though her role isn't specified, we're gonna take a leap here and say that she's probably going to be playing Shasta Fay Hepworth, Doc's (Phoenix) ex-girlfriend who sets the story in motion by asking for Doc’s help in investigating a plot and ends up going missing soon after. C&RV readers will recall that Witherspoon had previously been attached back in 2010 to the role of Peggy Dodd (back when the character's name was Mary Sue) in an earlier incarnation of "The Master" that never came to be. But it looks like PTA and Witherspoon will finally get to work together and also allow her to re-unite with her "Walk The Line" co-star Phoenix.

Update 9:55pm: In addition to Witherspoon, Jeff Sneider at The Wrap (who it should be noted has broken about 90% of the casting on this movie), reports that Martin Short and Jena Malone have also joined the film in supporting roles. Malone will play the part of Japonica Fenway, a free-spirited hippie chick who was the subject of Doc's first-ever paying case when she ran away from home. Short's role is still unclear but it's possible he could be playing Japonica's father Crocker Fenway, who hires Doc to investigage her disappearance or perhaps another role entirely. For those of you who have read the novel, who do you think Short might be playing? Sound off in the comments below. This is shaping up to be a really interesting cast seeing as only Phoenix and O'Connor have previously worked with PTA before. Filming on 'Vice' is set to get underway in the next few weeks so there should be lots more casting announcements to come. And if you're involved with the production, why don't you drop us a line?

Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates.
"The Master" is now available on Blu-ray and DVD

45 comments:

  1. http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/martin-short-and-jena-malone-joining-paul-thomas-andersons-inherent-vice-exclusive-91906

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  2. Doesn't Shasta have a steamy sex scene with Doc in this? I wonder if Reese will do a sex scene or if PTA had to write it out in order to get her to star.

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    1. A Baby Named JesusMay 15, 2013 at 7:10 PM

      Yes she does in the book, but i'm not sure if it's in the script.

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    2. PTA said that he didn't change very much when he wrote the screenplay. The scene is a hot one involving spanking lol. I'm definitely hoping it makes the film. It's PTA. Go all in or not at all Reese!

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  3. Malone seems to be making quite the resurgence with this and Catching Fire. I've like her since Saved! so I'm glad she's getting all of these great roles.

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  4. A Baby Named JesusMay 15, 2013 at 7:09 PM

    Martin SHORT!!!!!!!!!!!! Yip, yip. Also glad about Witherspoon. She'll be awesome as Shasta.

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  5. Not Witherspoon! She's a horrible actress! Also a horrible human being, judging from her arrest.

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    1. What are you saying?! Reese Witherspoon is an amazing actress! And maybe you shouldn't judge someone based off of one incident...I'm sure you wouldn't want to be called a horrible human being based off of one mishap.

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    2. A Baby Named JesusMay 15, 2013 at 7:32 PM

      He's that freak who goes from site to site and attacks Witherspoon. Everyone at imdb knows who he is. He's an idiot. He also harrasses Witherspoon on Twitter using his "Henry Barnhill" account. He goes by multiple names, so don't be surprised to see this loser infests this site as well.

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    3. Whoever says Witherspoon is a horrible actress hasn't seen Walk the Line. Her performance in that film was incredible. Did she win the Oscar that year?

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  6. I wouldn't mind seeing Kirsten Dunst as Penny.

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  7. Being drunk and acting stupid makes someone an awful person? Yeah, no. She's just a little ratchet.

    Also, this is inspired casting. It's interesting without feeling stunty. I question why some of you want to see a movie based on a Pynchon novel if you're so against weird things, like Reese Witherspoon toplining a PTA film with Joaquin, Benicio and Owen.

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  8. he could conceivably be dr. rudy blantnoyd

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  9. Dear everyone,
    Please no spoilers
    and to cigarettes and red vines, please don't give away too much in the character descriptions

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  10. I concur with Seth. Dr. Rudy Blatnoyd would be incredibly inspired casting for Martin Short. Now I can't think of anything I want more!

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  11. Psyched for Short & Malone, but is it foolish to hold out hope that Witherspoon could be playing Coy Harlingen's wife? Now that would be inspired casting-- a sort of Nicole Kidman in the Paperboy move. As Shasta, though, it's a bit of a downgrade after the Theron/Dunst rumours...

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    Replies
    1. fingers crossed. Still hoping Theron is still involved

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    2. And Downey Jr. for that matter

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    3. Isn't Jena Malone portraying Hope Harlingen????

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOjaSknD080

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  13. MARTIN SHORT IN PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON LAND? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I was hoping for Andrea Martin as Aunt Reet, but this will definitely do. I can't wait to see Robert Elswit's light on his face. Forget whatever horrible dogshit he's been in for the better part of the last three decades. He was on SCTV. He's Jackie Rogers Jr. He's Brock Linahan. He's Ed Grimley.

    I'm not the biggest Reese Witherspoon fan. I would preferred Kirsten Dunst. But I'll go with it. I'm sure she'll come off great.

    Jena Malone is a great pic. She's great in The Messenger. And Donnie Darko. She seems crazy, which is perfect for this part.

    All these big names is making this feel more and more like a sprawling, late 60's Atlman-y, but also kinda "Candy"-ish thing. Pynchon's book is drenched with an anything-goes sensibility which would pair up with this style of psychedelic La Ronde kinda of filmmaking, like a nice wine and cheese, so I'm psyched. Edelecized.

    I wonder who's gonna do the music. My vote wouldn't be Jonny Greenwood necessarily. Or Jon Brion. But someone like Van Dyke Parks. Or Donald Fagen. Or Marvin Hamlisch if he was still alive. Or David Sitek from TV on the Radio. Or Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine. Or Avey Tare.

    I would so love to make a Thomas Pynchon movie. The thickness you could put in it. The downright psychedelic density. I would love to tread in these waters. Love to swim in that soup.

    Someday I will make a movie that doesn't have cum in it.

    I promise.

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    1. I agree. This thing could very well have an Altmanesque Nashville, A Wedding, Gosford Park kinda vibe.

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    2. im hoping for jon brion personally. he'd kill the soundtrack -- just produced best coasts latest record which i think has the surf sound that hopefully will be presented in the picture

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  14. Also would love to see Panda Bear do this soundtrack . . .

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  15. Just let me know when Phillip Seymour Hoffman is confirmed...

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    Replies
    1. He has to play Mickey Wolfmann... I mean... he has to.

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  16. I get the vibe PTA is a big Innerspace and Three Amigo's fan, you feel me?

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  17. I hate Reese Witherspoon - not very constructive critism, granted, but I thought Shasta was supposed to be a KNOCKOUT blonde...Charlize was so much better, but that was not to be... Sienna Miller was my backup choice.

    Martin Short could be brilliant, and not just for the comedy, but also for the drama- did you see what he did in Damages? really impressive.

    Jena Malone is cool too, but Reese...!

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    1. You read my mind.

      Wonderful casting so far, but this Reese news ruined it.

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    2. I'm not a Reese Witherspoon fan cause she always plays in comedies,but IV is not a comedy??? Jena Malone on the other hand is far more talented and widespread actress. JM was one of the best childstars together with Dakota Fanning.

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  18. Well, Reese was brunette when she had the cop incident. Will be telling if she dyes her hair soon.

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  19. peoooopleeeeee do NOT be upset about reese...there are some incredible actors that also joined the movie ,,,i will just say that their names start with SEAN and JIM

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    1. Sean Penn as Prussia and Jim Carrey as Bigfoot? BOO YA!! That would be spectacular.
      But I agree with you about Reese. Joaquin and her had great chemistry in Walk the Line, and she's Academy certified (though we know how much that means...)

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    2. Wow. Groovy news if you mean Sean Penn, cos that would be fantastic. Penn was originally cast in Punch Drunk Love, wasnt he? In PSH's roll - the matress man??

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    3. Phoenix and Penn were in U Turn together too.

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    4. Does anybody remember when Jim Carrey was on David Letterman to promote Burt Wonderstone and he was wearing fake "big feet"? Do you think he was hinting at something?

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    5. hope so, Patty

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    6. DO YOU MEAN THAT HE HAS GOT SEAN CONNERY OUT OF RETIREMENT?? haha

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    7. actually i saw (on imdb) that sean's schedule is free at the moment while jim has a few projects in pre-production but paul wanted to work with sean on pdl and sad he wants to work with jim..so maybe they are strong possibilities

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    8. I ******** knew it!@!

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  20. Reese personifies "knockout." Dat. Mouf.

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  21. A Baby Named JesusMay 18, 2013 at 12:29 AM

    In case some of you were wondering, it seems that Robert Elswit dropped out of shooting that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

    The only film on his slate right now is Inherent Vice.

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