Wes Anderson reveals he has “finished making” his new movie
Director Wes Anderson has finished shooting his new movie, The Phoneician Scheme, which looks set for release next year.
The film will follow from the success of Anderson’s Roald Dahl anthology The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More, which was released earlier this year. The Phoenician Scheme began shooting in March at Studio Babelsberg in Germany, where Anderson has made several other projects, including 2021’s Asteroid City and 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. The new movie has now officially wrapped.
During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Anderson discussed the status of the project while speaking about his tendency to forge long-term collaborative relationships. “This film I just finished making in Germany,” he began, “there must be a hundred people on the film who have worked with me on other films.”
“It could be more who come back,” he continued, “and lots of cast members.” The Phoenician Scheme features a number of Anderson’s previous castings, including long-term collaborator Bill Murray.
Since landing a role in Anderson’s second full-length film, Rushmore, in the late 1990s, Murray has since found a near-permanent place in the director’s filmography. The Phoenician Scheme will mark their 10th on-screen collaboration.
Murray isn’t Anderson’s only returning cast member. Benicio del Toro, who previously appeared in 2021’s The French Dispatch, is also set to star, while Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston and Tom Hanks return after starring in Asteroid City last year.
Benedict Cumberbatch, who appeared as the titular character in Anderson’s Academy Award-winning short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, is also in the cast, while Willem Dafoe returns after appearing in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Though the film clearly demonstrates Anderson’s preference for casting actors he knows and trusts, there are a number of new names on the call list. After appearing as the now-iconic Allan in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie next year, Michael Cera will embark upon his first collaboration with Anderson in The Phoenician Scheme.
Multi-talented musician and actor Charlotte Gainsbourg will also appear in the film in her first collaboration with Anderson. She has previously honed a close collaborative relationship with auteur Lars Von Trier. Mia Threapleton, Kate Winslet’s daughter, also features in the cast.
Though shooting on the film wrapped up this month, a specific release date is yet to be confirmed for The Phoenician Film. It is expected to be released next year, in 2025.
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