First look at Joaquin Phoenix and Maya Rudolph on the set of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice

Paul Thomas Anderson is currently filming his next pic, INHERENT VICE, based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon, and today we have our first look at star Joaquin Phoenix in his '70's get-up as the drug-fueled deterctive, Doc Sportello, as well as Maya Rudolph in as Petunia Leeway, a nurse at Dr. Buddy Tubeside's vitamin shop. All looks well in line with what Anderson is good at, namely making actors into vivid characters, especially in their appearance. Phoenix is no stranger to PTA, having recently given a strange and volatile performance in the director's latest pic, THE MASTER.

Rudolph, who is married to Anderson, is pregnant in real life and is likely playing a bit part to supplement the film. Not that it needs it. With a cast including Phoenix, Owen Wilson, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Martin Short, Kevin J. O'Connor, and Katherine Waterston (with Sean Penn rumored to show up as well) the pic is already rocking the usual powerhouse cast that Anderson usually employs.

Mutton Chops!:

Here's the book synopsis:

It's been a while since Doc Sportello has seen his ex- girlfriend. Suddenly she shows up with a story about a plot to kidnap a billionaire land developer whom she just happens to be in love with. It's the tail end of the psychedelic sixties in L.A., and Doc knows that "love" is another of those words going around at the moment, like "trip" or "groovy," except that this one usually leads to trouble.

INHERENT VICE is currently filming with an eye towards release sometime in 2014.