DiCaprio and Paul Thomas Anderson reveal they paused “One Battle After Another” for Benicio del Toro, praising the cast and sharing behind-the-scenes insights.
Leonardo DiCaprio and director Paul Thomas Anderson opened up about one of the biggest behind-the-scenes challenges of their hit film One Battle After Another during an in-conversation event at BFI Southbank in London on Wednesday night.
The pair, joined by host Edith Bowman, spoke about the film’s success — it has already surpassed $200 million at the global box office — and the creative decisions that shaped its making.
One of the evening’s most surprising revelations was that production had to be halted for more than two months to accommodate Benicio del Toro’s schedule.
Del Toro, whom Anderson referred to as their “sensei,” had to leave temporarily to film Wes Anderson’s feature The Phoenician Scheme. Rather than recasting or rewriting the film, the team made the unusual decision to wait.
“In normal situations, you go, ‘Oh, we lost Benicio,’” Anderson said. “But we knew we couldn’t do this without him. Everyone on the crew agreed — we’d wait.”
Production paused for roughly two and a half months before resuming, a choice Anderson described as both financially and creatively challenging but ultimately necessary.
“I can’t imagine not waiting for Benicio,” he added.
The director also discussed why now felt like the right time to make One Battle After Another.
He credited the discovery of breakout star Chase Infiniti, DiCaprio’s age and readiness for the role, and his own maturity as a filmmaker and father. “It was confidence to tell the story,” Anderson noted.
The conversation also highlighted the film’s standout performances. Anderson praised Teyana Taylor as “a stick of dynamite” with a surprising softness, while DiCaprio spoke at length about Sean Penn’s portrayal of antagonist Lockjaw.
Rather than leaning into a purely menacing interpretation, Penn infused the character with fragility and pathos. DiCaprio said Penn made Lockjaw “pathetic and almost sympathetic at times,” a nuance that even caused some crew members to quietly admit they were “Team Lockjaw.”
The pair also reflected on the film’s exhilarating desert road car chase. DiCaprio recalled being “awestruck” by the location’s steep, rolling hills, while Anderson emphasized the value of scouting in person rather than relying on location databases. “My imagination isn’t good enough to invent something like that,” he said. “You have to get out into the world.”
Their discussion offered fans a rare look into the passion, obstacles and artistic decisions that helped bring One Battle After Another to life.
