Teyana Taylor says she’s “begging” Paul Thomas Anderson for a follow-up to One Battle After Another. The 35-year-old star, who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in Anderson’s acclaimed film, revealed that discussions about revisiting the character have already taken place.
“The conversations are very, very real,” Taylor told IndieWire. “I want to give everybody confirmation that I am currently begging PTA to give us that. I’m begging him to give us that.”
Taylor, who also won a Golden Globe for the role, credits her performance in the 2023 drama A Thousand and One with putting her on Anderson’s radar. “It’s so crazy because when I did A Thousand and One, I felt in my heart that this was going to be the role that would make people really see me and take me seriously,” she said. “To know that Paul was a fan of A Thousand and One, and that’s what made him reach out, I’m just like, ‘This is such a full circle moment.’ I have a thousand and one reasons to be grateful.”
The actress noted that audiences are still unpacking Perfidia’s arc and motivations. “This whole journey in this space has been a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. “So I’m taking my time because I’m still trying to process everything, all while still having these important conversations, wanting people to fully understand who Perfidia is and giving better insight into who she is and the overall goal of the movie.
“I haven’t taken the time to pat myself on the back yet because there’s much more left to this marathon and much more to do. You still have people who may not understand who Perfidia is, and then you have some people who’ve seen it several times and understand her even more.”
Taylor added that she has floated sequel ideas directly to Anderson. “Here and there, I make little jokes with Paul. I’m like, ‘We need to see what Perfidia did in those 16 years.’ Perfidia and Willa need some scenes together,” she said, referencing Chase Infiniti’s character. “When Willa walked out the door in that last scene, I said, ‘Where’s she really going? Is she going to free Deandra? Is she going to find her mommy?’ I love that it’s still hopeful, and there’s room for a little part two in there somewhere.”
For now, Taylor says she’s staying present in the moment, but she’s clearly ready to return to Perfidia’s world if Anderson gives the green light.
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