Paul Thomas Anderson, Philip Seymour Hoffman reuniting for religious pic

'There Will Be Blood' director ready to reteam with 'Boogie Nights,' 'Magnolia' star

By HitFix Staff Wednesday, Dec 2, 2009 10:57 PM

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Credit: Evan Agostini/AP

Paul Thomas Anderson has begun working on his follow-up to the Oscar-winning "There Will Be Blood," another dark take on the role of faith and religion on the American landscape.

According to Variety, Anderson is reteaming with frequent collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman on the drama, which is tentatively set up at Universal.

Hoffman will play The Master, a "charismatic intellectual" who launches his own faith-based organization in 1952. The movie revolves around the conflict between The Master and Freddie, his young lieutenant who begins to have doubts about the movement.

The film will have a $35 million budget, with Universal having first rights to the project when Anderson turns in a completed script. The trade paper says that Anderson hopes to shoot the new movie next year.

Hoffman has worked with Anderson on "Boogie Nights," "Hard Eight," Punch-Drunk Love" and "Magnolia" in the past. The "Capote" Oscar winner can currently be seen in the comedy "Pirate Radio."