Benicio del Toro was on the verge of not being part of One Battle After Another, one of the most talked about films of the 2025-2026 awards season.This was recalled by the actor himself during his speech at the New YorkFilm Critics Circle Awards, where he was recognized as Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, a key character in the film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Puerto Rican actor took advantage of the stage at the gala on January 6 to explain that his participation in the film was marked by serious scheduling problems that, at times, seemed to have no solution.
“I think that’s how this movie was made and maybe that’s why I’m here, because there were many obstacles with the schedule and at some points I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to be part of One Battle After Another,” Del Toro said in his speech.
The 58-year-old performer highlighted the attitude of Paul Thomas Anderson on set, to whom he attributed a spirit of perseverance that ended up defining the destiny of the project.
“There were many people who were very persistent. They felt that I had to make the film, that the sensei had to come to me,” he added in his gratitude.
The actor also highlighted the role played by his castmates, LeonardoDiCaprio and Sean Penn, who supported his incorporation into the film even when it meant drastically changing production plans.
“I have to say that both actors have inspired me throughout my career,” Del Toro said of DiCaprio and Penn.He added: “But it’s a little crazy for me, because I’m a fan. And the fact that these two guys got it into their heads that I had to play the sensei was pretty impressive; they were very persistent.”
The actor’s words coincide with what PaulThomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio had revealed months before at an event at the BFI Southbank in London.
There, the director explained that filming was forced to stop for approximately two and a half months to accommodate del Toro’s schedule, who had to fulfill commitments with another film.
“We had to call a timeout because Benicio had to go make the Wes Anderson movie,” said Paul Thomas Anderson.The director explained that, under normal circumstances, the decision would have been to move forward without the actor: “Normally, in a situation like this, you say, ‘Damn, we lost Benicio.’ But we really said that there was no possibility of doing this without him.”
“We took a break from filming for two and a half months and then we resumed. And, luckily, we were able to make it work, because the whole team said: ‘Yes, let’s wait for Benicio.’ I can’t imagine not having waited for Benicio,” the director highlighted.
Leonardo DiCaprio also supported this position and highlighted that the change of plans had a positive impact on the story.The pause in filming, far from weakening the project, allowed the team to strengthen the story and consolidate the interpretations, something that is reflected today in the critical reception and the strong performance of the film in the awards season.
In Battle After Battle, Del Toro plays Sergio St. Carlos, a karate instructor and community leader in the fictional town of Baktan Cross, California. His character becomes a key ally of Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio), a former revolutionary who must go on the run with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) when they are both pursued by government agents led by the villain Steven J. Lockjaw, played by Sean Penn.
Thanks to his work as the sensei, Benicio del Toro was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2026 Oscars, the BAFTAs, the SAG Awards, the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes.In addition, it obtained important recognitions, such as awards from the National Board of Review and the OklahomaFilm Critics Circle.
