"Help yourself to a hand grenade," casually remarked, to which the reply echoed, "You're very kind." Focus Features has unveiled the highly anticipated first trailer for "The Phoenician Scheme," the latest masterpiece from the renowned filmmaker Wes Anderson. Marking his 12th feature film, this cinematic gem is poised to make its grand debut at the prestigious 2025 Cannes Film Festival in May, before gracing select US theaters later in the same month and expanding nationwide in June.
This tale, steeped in espionage and shrouded in darkness, unravels the tension-laden relationship between a father and daughter within the confines of a family business. Twists and turns abound, centered on betrayal and morally ambiguous decisions that challenge even the hardest of hearts. Anderson himself describes "The Phoenician Scheme" as a spy narrative with a dark hue, featuring a father-daughter duo introduced in the trailer, portrayed with striking realism by Benicio Del Toro and Mia Threapleton.
The star-studded ensemble cast is a who's who of Hollywood's elite, with Del Toro taking on the role of Zsa-zsa Korda, alongside Threapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mathieu Amalric, and a myriad of other talented actors.
The film promises to be a fascinating, whimsical odyssey of deceit and intrigue. Prepare to be drawn into a labyrinthine plot that defies conventional storytelling – just watch, and the complexities will unfold before your eyes. It's a story about a family, their business, and the dark undercurrents of espionage that test the bonds of a strained father-daughter relationship.
Wes Anderson's unique twist on the spy comedy-thriller genre revolves around betrayal and morally ambiguous choices, wrapped in his signature whimsical style. Both written and directed by the acclaimed American filmmaker, whose credits include iconic and beloved films like "Bottle Rocket," "Rushmore," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," "The Darjeeling Limited," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Isle of Dogs," "The French Dispatch," and "Asteroid City," as well as the Roald Dahl shorts for Netflix.
Based on a story co-written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola (of "Moonrise Kingdom," "Isle of Dogs," "The French Dispatch," and "Asteroid City"), the film is produced by a powerhouse team including Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, and John Peet. Focus Features will release "The Phoenician Scheme" in select US theaters starting May 30th, 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout on June 6th this summer.
Who's ready to embark on this thrilling cinematic journey?
