Anderson’s 2021 film The French Dispatch was praised by critics, but almost every review mentioned that it will appeal mostly to the director’s fanbase. Most people know what they’re getting when they jump into one of his films. His two upcoming projects, Asteroid City and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, bring several of his frequent collaborators back for more off-kilter dramedy fun.
RELATED: Wes Anderson’s New Movie Asteroid City To Hit Theaters Next Summer
Anderson has been working on Asteroid City since at least 2020. The film’s title was revealed by Bill Murray in 2021. It was originally obliquely described as a “romance film,” but actors who were previously rumored to be involved mentioned aspects of the premise. Asteroid City takes place at a convention for teen stargazers where countless children and parents will meet and interact. It’s set in 1955 and the convention will take place in a fictional American town. The shooting was originally intended to take place in Rome, but Chinchón, Madrid became the backing for Anderson’s fake desert city. Most of the plot has been kept carefully hidden. Fans of Anderson’s work know that the interplay between the characters is the most important aspect. Summarizing a Wes Anderson movie is like describing a painting, it misses the point. However, the cast is certainly worth mentioning.
No less than 28 performers have been attached to Asteroid City. The list includes; Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Tom Hanks, Jeff Goldblum, Margot Robbie, Rupert Friend, Willem Dafoe, Scarlet Johansson, Ed Norton, and many more beloved movie stars. Among the massive cast, only three character names have been revealed. Rupert Friend’s character Montana, Matt Dillon’s character Hank, and Steve Park’s character Roger have been named. The rest of the cast is attached without any nod to their role in the narrative. There are a few younger performers on the slate. Aristou Meehan, Grace Edwards, and Jake Ryan are set to appear in teen roles. A ton of the cast has worked with Anderson in the past. Bill Murray was originally intended to appear, but complications due to COVID-19 prevented him from filming his scenes.
Speaking of frequent collaborators, Anderson is entering this project with several talented allies behind the camera as well. Anderson is writing and directing the film all on his own, but he’s producing the film alongside Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson. Rales owns the production company Indian Paintbrush, which had its hand in several of Anderson’s earlier projects. He even has a voice role as Beaver in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Dawson is a stop-motion artist and film producer who has been providing work for Anderson since The Life Aquatic in 2004. It is currently unknown whether they will have a role in the film beyond funding the production.
Anderson’s work is almost always celebrated for its score, which is often the work of Alexandre Desplat, who will be returning for Asteroid City. Desplat composed the score for Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, and The French Dispatch. He’s also known for films like The Shape of Water, Unbroken, and 2014’s Godzilla. Costume design is another area in which Anderson’s work excels, often thanks to the work of Milena Canonero. Canonero made a name for herself with her work on Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. She’s won four Oscars and four BAFTAs for her costume design work. She took home one of each for her work on The Grand Budapest Hotel. Anderson will be partnering with Focus Features for the first time in a decade to distribute the film.
Though little is known about Asteroid City, the attached team has a frankly obscene amount of talent. There can be no doubt that Anderson’s latest meditation will contain all the unique life-affirming joy and drama that he’s known for. With such a massive cast, fans will get to see a ton of performers in a new light. Anderson has a specific creative vision that turns all of his stories into unique journeys into his mind. Asteroid City will launch as a limited release in a few theaters on June 16, 2023. Fans everywhere can expect to see it only a week later when it goes wide on June 23rd. This coming-of-age story of a handful of brainy teens and their parents at a fateful young stargazer convention is set to be the thoughtful tone poem classic of the summer. Keep an eye on Asteroid City to see the latest version of Wes Anderson’s specialized take on the human condition.
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