Paul Thomas Anderson Developing Thomas Pynchon's INHERENT VICE

Paul Thomas Anderson is looking to adapt Inherent Vice from author Thomas Pynchon into his sixth feature film. It is not known how far along Anderson is on this project, but it has been reported that he's writing a treatment and may have already started on a script.

The book follows Larry "Doc" Sportello, a private eye with a penchant for pot who wanders 1969 Los Angeles during the summer of love. A more in depth description of the novel is available throuh a video narration from Pynchon explaining the world and worldview of his protagonist.  You can also read the first chapter of the book here.  

Vulture is reporting that Anderson’s agency, Creative Artists, is hoping to attract Robert Downey Jr. as Doc Sportello.  That is not official, because there are currently conflicting reports of Downey Jr.'s interest and his schedule is extremely busy until November 2011.   Anderson has a tendency to take his time with projects like his last film, 2007’s There Will Be Blood, so the timing might just work out perfectly.

Plans were scrapped in September for Anderson's long planned film based loosely on the life of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard after the price tag rose to exorbitant costs.  The Master, as it was planned to be titled, would have starred Philip Seymour Hoffman as the creator of a new faith and Jeremy Renner as his disciple. I would be very interested in seeing Hoffman in the role of the pothead private investigator if Downey's schedule does not work out.  

What are your thoughts of this news?