Audiences leaving One Battle After Another might be curious about the film’s dedication to Adam Somner, who was an important behind-the-scenes player in the production of the film. One Battle After Another is Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, a modern epic grounded by terrific performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti, and Regina Hall.
Paul Thomas Anderson has made a habit of working with many of the same actors and below-the-line creatives as possible, with Anderson typically bringing back collaborators like Producer Daniel Lupi, Costume Designer Mark Bridges, and Composer Jonny Greenwood. Somner was one such colleague who pᴀssed away before his final film with Anderson could hit theaters.
Why One Battle After Another Is Dedicated To Adam Somner
One Battle After Another finishes the credits with a dedication to Adam Somner, honoring the memory of the ᴀssistant Director and Producer in the last movie he worked on. After the credits for the film conclude, One Battle After Another‘s final note is a picture of Adam Somner at work on a film set.
Audio then plays of Adam calling for quiet on set, a personable and charmingly profane recording that speaks to the relatable and charmingly ᴅᴇᴀᴅbeat elements of the film’s comedy. A well-respected ᴀssistant Director and producer in the film industry, Adam Somner worked on One Battle After Another as the ᴀssistant Director and producer alongside Paul Thomas Anderson.
Tragically, Adam Somner died on November 27, 2024. He pᴀssed away at 57 from anaplastic thyroid cancer. The dedication serves as a tribute to Somner, paying tribute to his memory by showcasing his final work. Even beyond One Battle After Another, the dedication is a sweet send-off for Somner, befitting his longtime friendship and frequent collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson.
Adam Somner Was A Frequent Collaborator With Paul Thomas Anderson
Adam Somner got his start in Hollywood as an ᴀssistant Director on the Rowan Atkinson-led comedy, Johnny English. Over the last twenty years, Somner worked as the AD for some of Hollywood’s most iconic directors. His collaborators include Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Steve McQueen, Angelina Jolie, James Mangold, and Wes Anderson.
One of his most consistent partnerships has been with Paul Thomas Anderson. The pair began working together on There Will Be Blood, which remains one of PTA’s most acclaimed films. Somner subsequently worked as the AD on The Master, Inherent Vice, Phantom Thread, and Licorice Pizza, and finally One Battle After Another.
Beyond his on-set responsibilities as ᴀssistant Director, Somner was a producer on all those PTA films after There Will Be Blood. Shortly before One Battle After Another (his final film), Somner was AD on Steve McQueen’s Blitz, Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.
Somner’s filmography includes a host of other Oscar winners and critical darlings, and Anderson’s final tribute to his fellow filmmaker is a fitting one. It has the sincerity and profanity that define much of Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in his last movie. It’s a bittersweet tribute to one of the people who helped bring One Battle After Another to the big screen.
