Wes Anderson fans have reason to be excited today. Focus Features has acquired the rights to the filmmaker’s latest, espionage adventure film The Phoenician Scheme, and have set it for limited theatrical release on May 30th with a wider rollout beginning June 6th.
Described vaguely in the press statement as “The story of a family and a family business”, is said to have a dark espionage component and center on a father-daughter relationship.
The script was co-written by Anderson and Roman Coppola.
A three-hander, the lead roles are taken on by Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda, one of the wealthiest men in Europe; The Buccaneers actress Mia Threapleton as Zsa-Zsa’s daughter, Sister Liesel; and Michael Cera as their tutor, Bjorn Lund.
As usual, Anderson has assembled one Hell of an ensemble that includes Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Focus Features reteams with Anderson for the third time following Moonrise Kingdom and his latest feature, Asteroid City. Anderson has been working at a rapid clip lately. He also recently directed The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More for Netflix.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Anderson brought The Phoenician Scheme to Cannes as he did with Asteroid City.
