Jeremy Renner Circling P.T. Anderson's THE MASTER That Universal Won't Make

Back in December, The trades reported that There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson would be reunited with Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights) for a religious movie titled THE MASTER. Deadline New York now said newly Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) is circling the project…

The core of the story is the relationship between The Master (Hoffman) and Freddie, a twenty-something drifter who becomes the leader’s lieutenant. As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.”
Renner is looking to star as Freddie.
The controversy of course lies in its odd comparison to a Scientology-like cult/religion. Although it’s not necessarily straight up a biopic of the faith that Cruise and Travolta strongly believes in..

The Playlist has read the very early draft of THE MASTER, you can check out the rest of the script review OVER THERE but here’s some excerpt to give you an idea….

“The Master” is the story of a charismatic intellectual (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who hatches a faith-based organization that begins to catch on in America in 1952 called The Cause. The core dynamic centers on the relationship between The Master and Freddie Sutton, an aimless twenty-something drifter and alcoholic who eventually becomes the leader’s loyal lieutenant. As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

Instantly discovered on the ship by the close-knit cult, Freddie’s drink is drugged and then he’s interrogated by the highly paranoid Master who wants to know who sent him to spy on their community

Freddie reveals some personal darkness from his past and the Master — perhaps sensing guinea pig possibilities — gets hooked. After making sure as best he can that the young stow-way isn’t some spy or a thief after the renaissance man’s secret manuscripts (he calls himself a doctor, a writer, a philosopher, apoet, etc.), he welcomes Freddie into the fold,

So in a nutshell, it’s a story of this broken down dark soul Freddie who has been seduced by THE MASTER’s charm. But heads up, this is not for kids to watch.. because it includes twisted scenes of sex, incest, polygamy, adultery.
Universal Pictures doesn’t want to house the $35 Million budget movie so River Road might be the one to finance the project.