Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Battle of Baktan Cross starring Leonardo DiCaprio Wraps production

Paul Thomas Anderson’s highly anticipated film The Battle of Baktan Cross has officially wrapped production in El Paso, Texas. Rumoured to have a budget between $140 million and $175 million, the film has generated significant buzz, especially with its ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, along with Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Alana Haim.

While plot details remain under wraps, there is speculation that The Battle of Baktan Cross could be a modern-day adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland. If true, it would mark Anderson’s second foray into Pynchon’s world, following Inherent Vice (2014). Despite the secrecy, the film is being described as Anderson’s most mainstream work to date, incorporating action movie elements and featuring the most ambitious stunts of his career.

The Battle of Baktan Cross, starring Leonardo DiCaprio

The production began in January 2024 and was shot entirely on 35mm VistaVision, a widescreen format known for its rich, detailed visuals. Anderson’s love for classic filmmaking techniques is evident in VistaVision’s choice. Cinematographer Michael Bauman is credited as the director of photography, ensuring that the film maintains Anderson’s signature visual style.

As reported in World Of Reel, the score is composed by Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead, a frequent collaborator with Anderson, adding to the film’s allure. Greenwood’s distinct musical style, known for its haunting and atmospheric tones, is expected to elevate the film’s emotional depth.

If rumours are to be believed, The Battle of Baktan Cross is secretly an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland. Speculation suggests that Leonardo DiCaprio has been cast as Zoyd Wheeler, an ex-hippie fleeing from a federal agent named Brock Vond. In Vineland, the story alternates between Zoyd’s countercultural past in the 1960s and the Reagan-era 1980s, where Brock is revealed to have a daughter named Prairie.

This wouldn’t be the first time Paul Thomas Anderson has adapted a Pynchon novel—he previously tackled Inherent Vice in 2014. A known fan of Vineland, Anderson once admitted that bringing Pynchon’s sprawling 400-page book to the screen felt “too intimidating.” However, he may have found a way to translate the complex narrative into film.

Distributed by Warner Bros., The Battle of Baktan Cross is set to hit theatres on August 8, 2025. With its A-list cast, large-scale action sequences, and the creative force of Anderson at the helm, the film is poised to be one of the biggest releases in 2025. Fans and critics eagerly await what could be Anderson’s most ambitious project yet.