2 More Join To The Cast; Film Now Officially Titled ‘The Master'

Just as we were winding down for the week comes a late breaking bit of Friday news. According to Variety two more actors have come aboard the Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Project. Josh Close (TV's "The Unusuals") will play one of the Master's leading disciples while Fiona Dourif (HBO's "True Blood," daughter of Brad Dourif) has an undisclosed role. We might speculate again that she is playing the elder daughter, 19 year old Elizabeth (though Dourif is 29, she could probably pass for 19 more than Madisen Beaty who is only 16) but again, that's just pure speculation. Interesting to note that in earlier incarnations of the film Paul had been interested in Deborah Ann Woll (also of HBO's "True Blood"), for an unspecified role so it's either a complete coincidence or he's a fan of the show (though this writer can't imagine why). Also of interest is that Close costarred in the show "The Unusuals" in 2009 with Jeremy Renner, who was of course, long attached to the role of Freddie.

In other news it appears the film has a title. The Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Project/Untitled Religious Drama/Untitled Scientology Film usually referred to as 'The Master' will officially be titled...

"The Master"

We think we can get used to that. Read the article below.

'The Master' converts 2 thesps

Josh Close, Fiona Dourif board Paul Thomas Anderson's religious drama

By Jeff Sneider, Justin Kroll

EXCLUSIVE: Paul Thomas Anderson's religious drama "The Master" just picked up a pair of late converts in Josh Close and Fiona Dourif.

Currently shooting in Sacramento, pic also stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.

Hoffman plays a man who begins a faith-based belief system that closely resembles Scientology. Close will play a leading disciple, while Dourif's role wasn't disclosed.
Anderson wrote the pic and is directing. JoAnne Sellar, John Lesher, Bill Pohlad and Megan Ellison producing. Ellison's Annapurna Pictures will finance with The Weinstein Company handling worldwide distribution.

Close most recently wrote, produced and starred in "The Replicas" also starring Selma Blair and James D'Arcy.

Dourif, daughter of Oscar winner Brad Dourif, will soon be seen in a recurring role on HBO's "True Blood" as a witch. She previously had recurring roles on the pay cabler's "Deadwood" and on the FX miniseries "Thief." Earlier this year, thesp co-starred in the Sundance pic "Letters From the Big Man."

Close is repped by Buchwald & Associates and Untitled Entertainment; Dourif is repped by Innovative Artists and Juliet Green Management.

Also if the film is indeed shooting in Sacramento (as Variety suggests), that's news to us. As that city is about an hour+ northeast of Mare Island where we know the film has been shooting all week. Perhaps they meant San Francisco?

Check out our updated "The Master" cast.
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