El Paso Is A Backdrop Of The New Paul Thomas Anderson Film

The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived...the first full trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, One Battle After Another, just dropped today, and guess what? It was filmed right here in El Paso! That’s right, our beautiful desert landscape is about to hit the big screen in what’s shaping up to be one of Anderson’s most ambitious films yet. And let me tell you, the hype in this city was off the charts when cameras were rolling. I'm excited to find out just how much of El Paso makes it into this film!

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El Paso’s Hollywood Moment

Months ago, we were all buzzing about the big names gracing our streets: Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and even director Paul Thomas Anderson himself. Imagine going about your day, grabbing a coffee or filling up your tank, and suddenly, there's PTA scouting locations. Some lucky fans spotted DiCaprio around town, and Benicio del Toro? He even caught an El Paso Chihuahuas baseball game like a true local. If you were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of any of them, congratulations, that's a story to tell for life.

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The Teaser That Set the Internet on Fire

The teaser itself? Wild. In just a few seconds, we’re thrown into a world of gunfire, intensity, and wait, is that a pregnant Teyana Taylor casually shooting a rifle? Yes, it is. Meanwhile, DiCaprio’s just sitting there, sipping his drink like it’s another day in paradise. The baby arrives, and the very next scene shows the kid, now grown up, taking after mom with their own rifle. Talk about a full-circle moment. We get glimpses of an older DiCaprio with a goatee, Sean Penn dragging someone through an alley, and a cryptic line: “Just when you think you got a handle on things…” I'm in. Plus, the whole time you're watching, especially if you are El Pasoan, you'll probably be scanning the backgrounds to see if any of the shots from the trailer took place IN El Paso!

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What This Means for El Paso

El Paso is no stranger to film crews, but this is a Paul Thomas Anderson movie we’re talking about. The director behind There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Licorice Pizza brought a star-studded cast to our city, and now, the world is going to see El Paso in all its cinematic glory. This isn’t just a blink-and-you-miss-it location moment, we’re a key part of what’s rumored to be Anderson’s most expensive film yet, with a budget climbing past $140 million. That’s a lot of Hollywood investment in our backyard.

With the full triler finally out and the film hitting theaters on September 26, El Pasoans can officially start counting down the days. Whether you saw the stars in action or just love seeing our city get the recognition it deserves, one thing’s for sure: when One Battle After Another hits the big screen, El Paso better be showing up in full force.