Cooper Hoffman, son of Philip Seymour Hoffman, is the lead of Paul Thomas Anderson’s ’70s drama

Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, has been confirmed as the lead of the new film by Paul Thomas Anderson, which began principal photography last week.

After rumors swirled on the internet when a photo of what was believed to be the younger Hoffman (above), it was confirmed today. The film follows a high school student, who is also a successful child actor. Singer-songwriter Alana Haim (pictured above) is co-starring along with actor/director Benny Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems) and Oscar-nominated actor/producer/director Bradley Cooper on the coming of age film set in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s. This is first film for both the younger Hoffman and Haim. Anderson has directed numerous music videos for the group Haim.

The project began at Focus Features, who released Anderson’s last film, the multi-Oscar nominated Phantom Thread, but moved over to MGM when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Shooting began last week with images and video of Bradley Cooper looking a lot like Jon Peters, the producer of the 1976 version of A Star Is Born. Rumors continued that Haim might be playing Streisand, or a version of her, if this film does indeed end up being a Hollywood making of story. Cooper was nominated for Best Actor and Best Picture for his 2018 remake of A Star Is Born that won Lady Gaga the Oscar for Best Original Song.

Philip Seymour Hoffman worked on five films with Paul Thomas Anderson, including his 1996 feature debut Hard Eight, and the Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love, Magnolia and The Master. Hoffman, who won an Oscar for Capote, died at 46 in 2014.

UPDATE: Although there is no official title for the film yet, it’s ‘fake’ working title has been Soggy Bottom. On IMDb today, however, a new title emerged: The Night of Counting the Years. Interestingly enough, that also happens to be the title of an Egyptian movie from the 60’s, a favorite of Martin Scorsese. Read into it what you will.