The Regina Hall casting story for One Battle After Another began in Los Angeles, when Hall met Chase Infiniti during the auditions for the role of Willa Ferguson. Hall initially doubted Infiniti would land the part, noting that despite having seen several talented candidates, she did not consider Infiniti, who arrived last that day, a likely choice for the free-spirited daughter of Bob and Perfidia—characters played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor, respectively.
“She was the last person that came in that day, and we had [seen] some really good people. So the truth is, I felt bad for her,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“She was pretty — what’s the word — nice? She was talking about her sister and her parents and [it] sounded like a loving home, parents still married, and I was like, ‘Well, she’s definitely not… this ain’t it right here.’”
— Regina Hall, Actress
These first thoughts were dismissed as soon as Hall witnessed Infiniti’s audition. Hall, known as a screen veteran, realized Infiniti brought a strikingly different energy to the character, one that exceeded all expectations and quickly set her apart from the competition.
Chase Infiniti’s Audition Leaves a Mark
Chase Infiniti’s performance during the camera tests surprised Hall, Leonardo DiCaprio, and director Paul Thomas Anderson. While Anderson had narrowed the role of Willa down to three candidates, Hall became convinced of Infiniti’s suitability after seeing her transformation and chemistry with DiCaprio on screen.
“She was so wonderful and completely different [from] who she is,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“Because we had been in the other camera tests, we realized, ‘Wow, there’s something about her,’”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“There was just something great about the father-daughter dynamic between [her] and Leo.”
— Regina Hall, Actress
Confident that Infiniti was the frontrunner, Hall inadvertently revealed her thoughts about the outcome before the results were official. The interaction took place during a casual conversation with DiCaprio at the end of the auditions, under the mistaken belief that all candidates had left the premises.
“We thought all the girls had left,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“Chase was [still] there, but Leo and I didn’t know, so I was like, ‘How do you think it [went]?'”
— Regina Hall, Actress
A Spoiler in the Hallway: Revealing the Director’s Choice
Hall’s strong impression of Infiniti was so apparent that she openly expressed who she believed Anderson preferred for the role, unaware that Infiniti was within earshot. The supportive environment among the cast and the subtle cues during the audition process led Hall to comment candidly, leading to an unintentional casting spoiler.
“I said, ‘Well, it’s clear who Paul liked.’ I mean, we were talking about who’s getting the part! Now, thank the Lord, it was her,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“Oh, God. I don’t think I should be hearing any of this.”
— Chase Infiniti, Actress
“We walk past [Chase’s dressing room] to leave, and I see feet! We get outside, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I know she heard.’ You couldn’t not hear it,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“We said, ‘One, Two or Three?’ There were only three. She knew she was the last one, so she was Three. There was no way to cover it up. That was the terrible [moment] I had upon meeting her, so she had better [have] gotten the part, you know what I mean? She had to get it.”
— Regina Hall, Actress
The anxiety and excitement from both Hall and Infiniti followed the casting until it was finalized, making the Regina Hall casting story both a humorous and tense memory for the team. Hall’s accidental spoiler added an unforgettable twist to the actor selection process.
Regina Hall’s Own Path to Deandra
While Regina Hall advocated for Infiniti’s casting, her own journey into One Battle After Another started through a close, longstanding friendship with director Paul Thomas Anderson. Hall had become neighbors and friends with Anderson, deepening their bond outside the professional scene. The dynamic shifted from neighborly small talk to director-actor business when Anderson discussed the project with her directly.
“We had become friends, very naturally and organically from living just in a [close] proximity,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“At a certain point, when you know someone and you see them regularly with their family and their kids, they’re no longer, like, this [artistic] entity.”
— Regina Hall, Actress
Hall described a moment when Anderson approached her at her home, catching her off guard as she was preoccupied with discussing recent renovations rather than the possibility of a new role.
“We walked back inside and he said, ‘I want to talk to you about [this] project,’ and in that moment, Paul became the director again,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
“He said, ‘I have a project I want to talk to you about,’ and then he told me about it, and he said, ‘I don’t have the script, but I’ll give it to you soon.’ And then two months passed,”
— Regina Hall, Actress
During the wait, Hall hesitated to ask about the status of the offer, choosing patience over pressing her neighbor and friend for details. Her internal doubts, imagining scenarios such as Anderson mistaking her for Regina King or simply not following through, became a source of humor and anxiety.
“I was like, ‘You think he changed his mind?’ But I couldn’t tell anyone! I was like, ‘Did he mean Regina King? Has he gotten some kind of clarity? Do I ask? Does it make it awkward? We’re neighbors! What do I say? How can I drop a hint?’ I just didn’t, and I waited, and then eventually he came and brought the script.”
— Regina Hall, Actress
Chase Infiniti’s Breakout and Gratitude
Chase Infiniti’s experience working alongside Hall shaped her Hollywood debut, as One Battle After Another marked her first major film role and established her as an emerging star. Infiniti openly credited Hall for the support and kindness she received during the production, reflecting the depth of their connection on set and off.
“When I was auditioning for the film, Regina was [my] first person of contact for anything. I remember after meeting her for the first time, she was like, ‘If you ever need anything in L.A., please let me know,’ because I was shooting something else at the time, and it was my first time ever being here for an extended period,”
— Chase Infiniti, Actress
Infiniti described Hall as the sweetest person, recounting how their developing bond made her transition into a lead role in a high-profile film more comfortable and meaningful.
“She told me, ‘If you ever need anything, please call me. We can go hang out,’ and [you can] trust I made use of that very often. So thank you, Regina,”
— Chase Infiniti, Actress
“It’s been an incredible year, and I have wonderful support systems like Regina to thank for that. I’ve been so, so fortunate and so, so blessed this year to be a part of an incredible film that I love so much with a cast and crew that I love so much.”
— Chase Infiniti, Actress
The Impact of the Power Women Summit
The insights and stories about the Regina Hall casting story came to light during TheWrap’s Power Women Summit 2025, hosted at the Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and presented by STARZ #TakeTheLead. This event gathered leading women in entertainment and media, aiming to inspire and empower participants through panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. The summit provided a platform for actors like Hall and Infiniti to reflect publicly on the emotional journey behind One Battle After Another, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the backstage camaraderie, nerves, and triumphs of actors at pivotal moments in their careers.
The Regina Hall casting story, marked by uncertainty, honest missteps, and the formation of lasting professional friendships, captures a unique perspective on how roles are won and transformative moments are shared. As Chase Infiniti’s star rises and Hall continues to expand her artistic collaborations, their shared story continues to resonate within the broader landscape of Hollywood, underlining the importance of support and serendipity in major film productions.
