Paul Thomas Anderson To Write Robert Downey Jr's Live-Action "Pinocchio" Film

BIG NEWS: Robert Downey Jr's long-gestating live-action Pinocchio reboot has landed a writer by the name of Paul Thomas Anderson, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

THR also reports PTA could potentially be in line to direct the picture as well. 

Love or hate this idea, it could not be more out of left-field. As well as being a producer on the movie, Robert Downey Jr. has nabbed the role of Geppetto for himself. Beyond that, we have too many questions, so we will just wait for more details to arrive.

Stay tuned!

C&RV

PTA Told Robert Downey Jr. He Was Too Old For ‘Inherent Vice'; Wanted Joaquin Phoenix For The Role

Recently there was much speculation as to why Robert Downey Jr., who had been linked to the lead role of Doc Sportello in "Inherent Vice" for so long, would suddenly decide to drop out of the film just as it's getting ready for production. Many assumed it was because he was too busy with his never-ending Marvel contract but it appears that wasn't the case. In an interview with GQ (via The Playlist), Downey Jr. says it was PTA who decided Downey wasn't right for the role and he wanted Joaquin Phoenix (though the pair are still friends).

Robert Downey Jr. Still Attached To ‘Inherent Vice'; Charlize Theron Possibly Joining As Film Gears Up

Wow, well this certainly comes as a surprise. According to Showbiz 411 (via The Playlist) things are already gearing up for PTA's adaptation of "Inherent Vice." The article states the obvious (that 'Vice' will be PTA's next film & Annapurna are once again financing), the unconfirmed (that Robert Downey Jr. who had originally been pegged to star is still attached) and drops one new casting rumor: that Charlize Theron may be joining the film as well. See below:

There were a lot of internet rumors and some clues over the last week. Now I can confirm that Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film will be an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Inherent Vice.” And also, it does like Robert Downey, Jr. and perhaps Charlize Theron will be the stars, with more names coming. After disappointing box office on “The Master,” PTA is said to be interested in having a moneymaker.

I can tell you that the brilliant and relatively young Megan Ellison is going to produce via her Annapurna Productions. Ellison is also busy prepping David O. Russell’s next one, “American Bullshit,” with Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale and, obviously, a new title.

Pynchon is notoriously reclusive. The legendary author of “Gravity’s Rainbow” and “V” has lived for years right here in New York, married to literary agent Melanie Jackson. He’s our J.D. Salinger, meaning no one ever sees him. (Other writers like this include Thomas Harris, the creator of Hannibal Lecter, who lives in Sag Harbor, and Harper Lee, who used to be in New York and is now down south in what I’m told may be assisted living.)

Pynchon did narrate a video for “Inherent Vice” which can be –and has been–found on You Tube. I’m told he thinks very highly of Anderson, who’s met with him a lot. “Pynchon only wants Paul to make this movie,” says a source. And we do too. More: “It’s closer to Boogie Nights than any of his other films.”

Though the article is a bit sketchy as far as unconfirmed sources go, back in December PTA did name Charlize as one of the actors/actresses he'd most like to work with it wouldn't surprise us if it ends up being true. "Charlize Theron I think is dynamite.  She's so great," he told Sirius naming her alongside Jim Carrey, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Shannon. So maybe don't be surprised if any of their names pop up for roles either... We must say that it's pretty thrilling that "The Master" hasn't even opened in certain territories yet (or landed on Blu-ray) and we're already talking about the next project. Any readers who have read the novel want to guess on who Charlize might be playing? Sound off in the comments but no spoilers please.

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Robert Downey Jr. Talks ‘Inherent Vice'

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Huge props to MTVNews for really using every excuse to ask people about PTA. A few weeks ago they cornered Rami Malek for some details on 'The Master' and today they've gotten a few good quotes out of Robert Downey Jr. about the rumors of their collaboration on 'Inherent Vice.' Now 'Vice' if you don't remember is an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel about an L.A.-based private eye who takes on a case involving an ex-girlfriend, her real estate billionaire boyfriend and a kidnapping. Paul wrote the screenplay back in 2010 after running into trouble with 'The Master' financing and with Downey rumored to be attached, it looked as if 'Vice' had a good chance of going before cameras first.

But this was all before film saint Megan Ellison swooped in and Annapurna Pictures decided to finance both projects and Paul decided to rewrite 'The Master' and do that instead/first. Word has been quiet on the project while he's been busy on the aforementioned film so we can assume there hasn't really been any movement on it for some time. When asked about the project Downey didn't really confirm or deny but definitely seems anxious to work with Paul.

"Anything to do with Paul Thomas Anderson and I doing a movie together is probably true," Downey Jr. said. "We tend to talk about a variety of potential projects, and Thomas Pynchon's 'Inherent Vice' could be great, we'll see."

"I feel like I'm booked but I'm not. I make space for what I want to do," he said, adding that what he enjoys most about Anderson is the fact that he's talented and just darn likeable.
"I just think he's one of our great American directors, I just like hanging out with the guy."

Cross your fingers that with financing already in place and a script that should be ready to go, we won't be waiting another 5 years between films. That is of course, assuming that Paul doesn't decide he wants to rewrite it heavily or do something else entirely. (Thanks @angel_glands & Charlie for the heads up!)

Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook. We have another little post about 'The Master' coming up in a few...

‘Inherent Vice' Might Shoot This Fall

According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, Robert Downey Jr. is "making plans" to film "Inherent Vice" this fall with PTA. It was reported in December that Downey was being thought of for the lead in the film but his busy schedule made his involvement a big question mark. But as we/everyone speculated recently when he bailed from "Oz The Great And Powerful," he now has room in his schedule for 'Vice.' THR says that Downey's commitment to the film has "recently grown serious" so it looks like a creative relationship might be blossoming for the two. Neither Paul nor Downey have spoken officially about the project, so as usual we will keep you updated as news comes in. For now, you can check out a trailer for the book below:

New PTA Project With Robert Downey Jr, Maybe

Yesterday an explosion of rumors hit the web about the next project from Paul being an adaption of Thomas Pynchon's 2009 novel "Inherent Vice" with Robert Downey Jr. being courted for the lead role.
Downey would be playing a pothead private eye from Los Angeles set in the late 60s in a novel that Wikipedia has summarized as:

Inherent Vice has been well-received among critics, particularly for its mainstream appeal. In a generally favorable review, the New York Times' Michiko Kakutani called it "Pynchon Lite", describing it as "a simple shaggy-dog detective story that pits likable dopers against the Los Angeles Police Department and its “countersubversive” agents, a novel in which paranoia is less a political or metaphysical state than a byproduct of smoking too much weed." 

A review by academic Louis Menand in The New Yorker declared the novel to be "a generally lighthearted affair", while adding that there were still "a few familiar apocalyptic touches, and a suggestion that countercultural California is a lost continent of freedom and play, swallowed up by the faceless forces of coöptation and repression." 

In a scathing review in New York magazine, Sam Anderson wrote that "with no suspense and nothing at stake, Pynchon’s manic energy just feels like aimless invention.

As reported, Downey is tied up for the next year but given the implied status of all aspects that will more than likely not slow anything down to severely. More news if/when it surfaces.

Note: After months of making terrible/awkward designs and layouts for the portfolio/media section of the site, the answer has finally revealed itself while trying to tackle similar issues for my own page that have plagued me for ages.

The site will feature a minimal amount of pages/clicking with all information for each project on one page in an easy to find format. A few of you have offered to help out along the last 6-8 months while the site, admittedly, was treated like a middle child so if you were one of those people, feel free to re-message me as I may have a little light-lifting for 1 or 2 of you.