Warner Bros. has unveiled a gripping new trailer for One Battle After Another, the highly anticipated next film from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson. The action-comedy-thriller hits theaters nationwide on September 26, including select IMAX and 70mm screenings, marking Anderson’s first-ever IMAX release.
The film is loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s postmodern novel Vineland, but with a fresh modern-day twist. DiCaprio stars as Bob Ferguson, a reformed revolutionary living in quiet exile with his daughter. Their peace is shattered when a sinister figure from his past—played by Sean Penn—re-emerges after 16 years, forcing him to reunite with his former crew to save his daughter.
The star-studded cast includes Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro (as the mysterious “Sensei”), Wood Harris, Chase Infiniti, Alana Haim, and Shayna McHayle. It also reunites Anderson with longtime collaborator and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, who scores the film.
Early test screenings describe the film as “the closest we’ll ever get to a full-on PTA action movie,” with high-octane car chases and explosive set pieces. The newly released “Bad Hombre” teaser gives viewers a chaotic glimpse into the gritty, kinetic world Anderson has crafted—a sharp pivot from his recent nostalgic drama Licorice Pizza.
One Battle After Another has been quietly building buzz, especially since it marks the first time DiCaprio and Anderson are working together after a missed opportunity on Boogie Nights nearly three decades ago.
No word yet on a festival premiere, but with studio execs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy—who also took a big swing on Ryan Coogler’s Sinners—behind it, expectations are sky-high.
Watch the new trailer for One Battle After Another above.