Well yeah i know that the Comcast/GE deal to combine NBC Universal and Comcast’s cable operations was finally announced today - but let’s be real, that is old news at this point!

The super cool news is that today Variety has a story about Paul Thomas Anderson’s next film. To get you up to speed on why this is a momentous day, PTA is one of the most original filmmakers of the last 15 years and his filmmaker’s voice is not heard nearly enough.  His last film was the instant classic “There Will Be Blood”, and prior to that he’s given us “Punch Drunk Love”, “Magnolia” and “Boogie Nights”.  All great, original films and worth checking out if somehow you’ve missed them.

But back to today’s news.  PTA’s frequent collaborator, the esteemed Philip Seymour Hoffman, has been attached to star in PTA’s next project currently titled “The Master”.  Apparently, it’s a period piece about a charismatic leader-type (the “Master” played by Hoffman as in “master of ceremonies”) who starts a faith-based organization in 1952.  Now I don’t know whether its a coincidence or not but L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology in 1952.  Hmmm.  I have a feeling PTA has some fertile territory to cover here, and honestly I’ll go on any trip he is willing to take me, so I can not wait to see this movie.    Pending Universal Picture’s approval of PTA’s final script and the reported $35M budget, this film should go into production next year, and I’m guessing we are looking at some serious Oscar-bait in 2011 or 2012 depending on when this film gets released.

Click the link in the title above for today’s coverage in Variety of “The Master”.

And don’t forget to email me your questions/comments at smarthollywood@gmail.com or find me on twitter @smarthollywood.