Paul Thomas Anderson Filmed Part of Adam Sandler’s Forthcoming Netflix Special (Updated)
Photos by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty, Emma McIntyre/Getty Comedy News Paul Thomas Anderson
Update: A source close to the production confirms, “Steven Brill is directing and Paul Thomas Anderson filmed a portion of Adam’s stand-up set in Los Angeles on April 10.”
Original Story: It’s been 16 years since the critically beloved Punch-Drunk Love debuted. Now, Adam Sandler and Paul Thomas Anderson appear to have reunited for Sandler’s forthcoming Netflix stand-up special, as IndieWire points out. This marks the first official collaboration between the two since the 2002 film, which also starred Emily Watson and the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman. Sandler taped his special at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, where a Twitter video captured the Oscar-nominated director behind the camera.
Paul Thomas Anderson pic.twitter.com/45l15HzdkI
— xfurnx (@unfunzine) April 11, 2018
The night’s event at the venue was known to the public as An Evening with Adam Sandler. He will perform again tonight at Los Angeles’ Dynasty Typewriter at the Hayworth Theatre.
Sandler is currently in the midst of an ongoing Netflix mega-deal through which the streamer will release more of his films and content. Most recently, Netflix streamed Sandler’s The Ridiculous 6, Sandy Wexler, and the forthcoming The Week Of with Chris Rock and action-comedy Murder Mystery with Jennifer Aniston. Sandler is also set to star in the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems, which could mean possible awards talk for the actor. He received Oscar buzz last year for Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), which premiered at Cannes before debuting on Netflix in October. The film received a standing ovation at the festival, with critics especially praising Sandler’s performance.
Anderson is coming off his six-time Oscar-nominated film Phantom Thread, which earned him his second directing nomination. This marks the first collaboration between Anderson and the streaming service, and it’s Anderson’s first project of the year that is not music-related—he’s directed several of Haim’s latest music videos.