Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams are absent on the new The Master poster

Anticipation for Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming film THE MASTER is building and this poster does nothing but add to the mystery. With actors Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams nowhere to be found, it makes one wonder what significance a wine bottle submerged in liquid means. Is it a subliminal message about how a person can be sucked into a religion and be drowned, or does it go along the lines of “don’t drink the kool-aid” because you’ll get swallowed up? Or maybe alcohol is just a major plot point in the film and I’m reading too much into this poster. Many questions, but it just piques the curiosity even more. I for one can’t wait to see this film and then wait to see how much the Scientologist’s of the planet freak out (even more) when the rest of the world watches. I just can’t help it, I do love a good Hollywood controversy.

THE MASTER is set in the 1950′s and follows a relationship between a charismatic leader known as “the Master” (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and a drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) who eventually becomes his right hand man. It looks like THE MASTER is set to hit theaters this October 12th, 2012. (Moviefone)

Tags: Amy Adams, Joaquin Phoenix, movie news, paul thomas anderson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, the master