Joaquin Phoenix in talks to Join Paul Thomas Anderson's THE MASTER

Joaquin Phoenix hasn't made a movie since he released that train wreck of a mocumentary I'm Still Here, which really hurt his career. The actor is now in early talks to team up with Philip Seymour Hoffman in Paul Thomas Anderson's scientology drama, formally known as The Master. The film is currently now untitled. 

Anderson is directing from his own original script, which chronicles a disaffected disciple's relationship with the founder of a new religion that closely resembles Scientology. Hoffman is already set to play Lancaster Dodd, a charismatic intellectual known as The Master. If Phoenix is cast he would take on the role of Freddie Sutton, an alcoholic drifter who becomes his right-hand man only to begin questioning his manipulative mentor.

Here's a synopsis for the film that was previously released:

“The Master” is the story of a charismatic intellectual (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who hatches a faith-based organization that begins to catch on in America in 1952 called The Cause. The core dynamic centers on the relationship between The Master and Freddie Sutton, (would be absolutely perfect for Paul Dano) an aimless twenty-something drifter and alcoholic who eventually becomes the leader’s loyal lieutenant. As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

This is going to be a controversial film due to the fact that it deals with Scientologists who are very touchy when it comes to this kind of thing. I love the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, and this is going to be another great movie. Anderson is also developing an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's detective novel Inherent Vice, which will star Robert Downey Jr.

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