Sorry, Is Leonardo DiCaprio About to Be in Fortnite?

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Sabrina Carpenter, John Wick, and the trailer for Christopher Nolan’s movie Tenet have all made appearances within Fortnite. It’s not surprising that there’s overlap between Tinseltown and this popular battle-royale game, but this latest collaboration is one of the most unexpected blends yet.

On the 24th of July, the Instagram account for the movie “One Battle After Another” shared a video featuring an animated character from Fortnite dressed in military gear, rushing towards a payphone reminiscent of the one seen in the film’s first trailer. The video then transitioned to black with a caption: “One Battle After Another: Coming to Fortnite.” It may seem unusual for a movie like this, an adaptation of Paul Thomas Anderson and Thomas Pynchon’s work about insurgency, to be adapted into a dance-friendly video game like Fortnite. Could it be that Warner Bros., with its significant investment of over $100 million in the film, is making a last-minute effort to attract younger audiences (zoomers)? Is there any connection between Anderson’s children, who enjoy Marvel films, and this decision? Will actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, or even Sean Penn be playable characters in the game? Does Sean Penn have any knowledge of Fortnite?

Although it might seem unusual for a filmmaker like Anderson to partner with Fortnite, One Battle After Another appears, at least on the surface, to be a compatible choice for a video game crossover. Anderson’s movie is essentially an action-comedy, brimming with guns and car chases, much like Fortnite, which centers around running amok with weapons and engaging in bizarre antics. This collaboration could pave the way for further partnerships between the expansive PTA cinematic universe and Fortnite: perhaps Reynolds Woodcock-designed skins or allowing players to assume the roles of Daniel Plainview and Eli Sunday. As one Instagram comment humorously put it, “Barry Egan skin when??” (in reference to Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love). It could also lead to more Leonardo DiCaprio characters being introduced: Romeo, Jack, or even the character attacked by a bear in The Revenant. If there’s one person involved with One Battle After Another who is already familiar with Fortnite, it’s DiCaprio. He must find some way to utilize Tobey Maguire and Lukas Haas when they’re not on a yacht.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve noticed that movies like “Barbenheimer” and last year’s “Wicked” have shown us an effective marketing strategy known as “culture jacking.” While there haven’t been any fast-food tie-ins, makeup kits, or special popcorn buckets for “One Battle After Another,” the idea of a collaboration with “Fortnite” seems unusual considering the director usually caters to an older audience. However, it’s a sweet thought, and who knows? With Anderson’s dedicated fanbase and the potential appeal to gamers, it might just work out. Cinephiles and gamers, we could both enjoy this!

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2025-07-25 22:54