In the eagerly anticipated trailer for Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, unveiled on Monday, Benicio del Toro takes on the role of a blood-spattered, dark-eyed arms dealer who has miraculously survived six plane crashes and inexplicably chosen to bypass his nine sons, opting instead to entrust his sprawling family empire to his sole daughter, Liesl – a nun wielding a knife, portrayed with poise by Mia Threapleton.
As Zsa-zsa Korda (played by del Toro) navigates the treacherous waters of espionage in this darkly comedic tale, he declares at a pivotal moment, "Today, tonight, and tomorrow, we converge with every giant of industry, pretending to confirm what we've already agreed upon. But in reality, we don't. We can't." His mission: to secure the future of his familial dynasty and mend the fractured ties with his estranged daughter.
The ensemble cast is a star-studded affair, featuring Michael Cera as Bjorn Lund, the tutor, alongside Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, and Bryan Cranston, who engage in a thrilling 3-point basketball shootout that adds an unexpected layer of excitement to the narrative. Anderson, renowned for his loyalty to his collaborators, has assembled yet another talented team for his latest film, shot in Germany.
Focus Features has set a release date of May 30th for The Phoenician Scheme, paving the way for a broader release on June 6th. Anderson, who penned the script for his 13th feature film based on a story he co-wrote with Roman Coppola, continues his fruitful partnership with Indian Paintbrush and Focus, which also brought Asteroid City (2023) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012) to life.
Produced under Anderson's American Empirical Pictures banner, the film also boasts Steven Rales of Indian Paintbrush as a producer, alongside Jeremy Dawson and John Peet. The Phoenician Scheme promises to be a cinematic tour-de-force, blending Anderson's signature whimsical style with a gripping tale of family, betrayal, and survival.
