Teaser Released for Paul Thomas Anderson’s New Film ‘One Battle After Another’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Warner Bros. Pictures has unveiled the first teaser for “One Battle After Another,” the highly anticipated film from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Sean Penn. Scheduled for release in theaters on September 26, the teaser arrives just a week ahead of a full trailer.

The short clip highlights intense scenes featuring characters firing weapons in a field. Notably, Teyana Taylor’s character, who is pregnant, is seen shooting a rifle while Leonardo DiCaprio’s character observes with a drink in hand. The scene shifts dramatically as the baby is born, with a voiceover asking, “What are you gonna do about this baby?” The teaser concludes with a flash forward, showing the grown child wielding a rifle, emulating her mother.

“Just when you think you got a handle on things,” a character remarks as DiCaprio, appearing older and sporting a goatee, focuses down the scope of a gun. Meanwhile, Penn’s character is depicted dragging a screaming young woman down an alley.

Before the teaser’s release, minimal information about the film’s plot circulated, noting it features a contemporary setting and an ensemble cast. Rumors also hinted that this could be Anderson’s most expensive project to date, with early estimates suggesting a production cost exceeding $100 million. This comes after Anderson’s previous film, “Licorice Pizza,” which, despite its critical acclaim, failed to recover its $40 million budget, resulting in significant losses.

Alana Haim, who garnered attention from her role in “Licorice Pizza,” will also return to collaborate with Anderson in this new project. The film’s ensemble cast includes Benicio del Toro, Wood Harris, Shayna McHayle, and Chase Infiniti.

Principal photography for “One Battle After Another” commenced in January 2024 in California, a preferred location for many of Anderson’s films. The production initially bore the working title “BC Project” and utilized 35 mm film with VistaVision cameras. In addition to filming in California, some scenes were shot on location in El Paso, Texas.

This film marks the sixth collaboration between Anderson and composer Johnny Greenwood and the fifth effort with first assistant director Adam Somner, who passed away in November 2024. “One Battle After Another” is poised for an August 8 release by Warner Bros. Pictures.