Teyana Taylor has suggested she may return in a follow-up to Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie One Battle After Another. The 35-year-old actress, who earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for playing Perfidia Beverly Hills, revealed she is actively encouraging Anderson to continue the story.
During an interview with IndieWire, Taylor stated,
The conversations are very, very real. I want to give everybody confirmation that I am currently begging PTA to give us that. I’m begging him to give us that.
Her enthusiasm clearly shows she is eager for a continuation of her character’s narrative.
How Teyana Taylor’s Role in ‘A Thousand and One’ Connected Her with Anderson
Beyond her recent accolades, Taylor won a Golden Globe for her role in One Battle After Another and credited her performance in the 2023 film A Thousand and One as the catalyst that caught Anderson’s attention. As an artist with a music background working alongside stars like Beyoncé and Kanye West, Taylor felt that particular role would elevate her acting profile.
She shared,
“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. 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.’”
Taylor added,
I have a thousand and one reasons to be grateful.
Exploring the Complexities of Perfidia: Taylor’s Ongoing Reflection
Taylor explained that audiences are still working to fully grasp her character Perfidia’s depth and motivations. She described the experience of playing Perfidia as “a marathon, not a sprint,” reflecting on how she is taking her time to process the role while participating in ongoing discussions about the character’s intent and the movie’s overall themes.
She elaborated,
So I haven’t taken up the time to pat myself on the back yet because there’s much more left to this marathon, and much more to do, because you still have people that may not understand who Perfidia is. You have some people that have seen it several times, and it only makes you understand her even more.
Taylor enjoys the evolving journey, noting,
“I’m pacing myself, just taking my time with it. The biggest pat is once we get to the touchdown, and once we get to that finish line, that’s when I’ll be like, ‘Wow, this was a journey.’”
Despite the slow unfolding, she appreciates the chance to be fully present in the process and has playfully nudged Anderson about expanding Perfidia’s story.
“Here and there, I make little jokes with Paul. I’m like, ‘We need to see what Perfidia did in those 16 years,’”
she noted, signaling her hope for more scenes exploring the character’s development.
Potential Storylines for a Sequel and Character Interactions
Taylor also expressed interest in scenes shared between Perfidia and Willa, played by Chase Infiniti. Reflecting on Willa’s exit in the film’s final moments, she wondered aloud about Willa’s future actions, saying,
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 it’s room for a little part two in there somewhere.
This comment highlights the unanswered questions left open for possible exploration in a sequel.
With her growing bond to Anderson and thoughtful insights into Perfidia’s journey, Taylor’s involvement could shape a deeper narrative continuation. As discussions remain underway, fans and viewers alike await whether the filmmaker will answer her call for a Paul Thomas Anderson follow-up, expanding on this intricate story and its compelling characters.
