This marks the first occasion that Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in an Anderson's film. Alongside DiCaprio, the cast features Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Benicio del Toro, Wood Harris, Shayna McHayle, and Chase Infiniti.
Plot details and the film’s exact title remained under wraps until the first teaser was released, with One Battle After Another expected to be loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s classic 1990 novel Vineland. The trailer reveals that DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a quirky, dishevelled revolutionary attempting to save his daughter. It opens with Bob, clad in a beanie and bathrobe, using a payphone to seek help from unknown rebel allies, only to forget the necessary codewords. Del Toro portrays Bob’s mentor, teaching him to live without fear — pushing him out of a speeding car in the process. The trailer concludes with DiCaprio shouting “Viva la revolución” as he and Del Toro prepare to confront their foes.
Anderson wrote the script and produced alongside Sara Murphy and the late Adam Somner. The film was shot on 35mm film using VistaVision cameras, with production taking place in California and additional filming in El Paso, Texas.
Notably, this is DiCaprio’s first leading role since 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s historical drama that received 10 Oscar nominations. While Anderson has yet to win an Academy Award, he has been nominated 11 times, with Licorice Pizza receiving nods for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. His first Oscar nomination came in 1998 for the screenplay of Boogie Nights.
One Battle After Another is produced by Warner Bros and is set to release in theatres on September 26, with IMAX screenings available.
