Over the last few decades, Paul Thomas Anderson has turned in some of the most unique and critically-acclaimed movies of the modern era. That said, it doesn't sound like the man behind There Will Be Blood is above looking into the world of cartoons for inspiration. In fact, during a social media Q&A session to promote the release of Phantom Thread, Anderson even admitted his interest in directing a Teen Titans movie if the opportunity presented itself. In response to a query about cartoons that he would want to adapt for his kids, the Academy Award-nominated director answered:
For the uninitiated in the world of DC Comics and DC superheroes, Teen Titans was a cartoon that ran from 2003 to 2006. As its name suggests, it focused its story on the Teen Titans -- a group of sidekicks/younger superheroes who come together to form their own Justice League. The show was followed by the pseudo spinoff Teen Titans Go! and the separate, but similar, Young Justice (which will soon receive a long-awaited third season), but it seems that Paul Thomas Anderson wants to go straight to the source and adapt Teen Titans into a proper movie.
Who knows? Given Paul Thomas Anderson's history of working with Daniel Day-Lewis, perhaps it would be possible for him to convince the legendary actor to come out of his post-Phantom Thread retirement for a comic book role. Alfred Pennyworth, perhaps?
One of the most exciting things to note about Paul Thomas Anderson admitting his willingness to make a Teen Titans movie is the fact that we genuinely have no idea what that film would or could look like. Though he has a well-earned reputation as a beloved filmmaker with movies like Boogie Nights and Magnolia, he hasn't done much work in the big-budget blockbuster realm. Having said that, he has vocally defended the superhero genre from its detractors in the past, so it seems reasonable to assume that he could be interested in such a project.
Of course, at this point, it needs to be said that there are no official concrete plans for a Teen Titans movie, let alone one directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Cyborg is currently a member of the silver screen Justice League roster, and Nightwing is gearing up to enter the DCEU within the next few years as well. Beyond that, however, we have very little information about possible Titans who could show up on the big screen anytime soon.
That said, if you are in the market for a live-action Teen Titans adventure, it will soon be possible to get your fix, albeit on the small screen. A show centering on the DC sidekick team (titled merely, Titans) is set to debut on the DC streaming service later this year, with characters like Dick Grayson, Beast Boy, and Raven all slated to headline the show. If that show proves successful, then it could go a long way towards convincing heavy-hitters at DC and Warner Bros. that a Teen Titans movie could work. If that happens, then it might be worth giving PT Anderson a call to see if he's still interested.
Only time will tell if we will ever see a Teen Titans movie, regardless of whether or not Paul Thomas Anderson is the one behind the camera for it. For now, you can catch Anderson's latest work in Phantom Thread, which is now in theaters.
