Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win passes to the Advance Screening of Wes Anderson’s THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. Screening takes place June 5, 2025 in Toronto at Varsity Cinema.

Synopsis: The story of a family and a family business.

Starring: Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Liesl, his daughter/a nun; Michael Cera as Bjorn, their tutor. With: Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and/or IG. Tag 1 friend you’ll take to the Premiere with you. Multiple entries permitted.

Rules and regulations here.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada release THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME June 6, 2025.

Some fun activities taking place around Toronto in celebration of its release here.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features/Universal Pictures Canada)

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME actually will have a Torontonian Scheme — a series of local partnerships with Toronto businesses offering uniquely Wes Anderson-inspired experiences!

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada release June 6, 2025.

Here are some fun activities going on around the City to celebrate its release. A chance to see it also might just be coming soon as well!

More to come…

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada will release THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME in select theatres on Friday, May 30, 2025 and Nationwide on Friday, June 6, 2025. Today, we get a new Trailer!

Story By: Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
Screenplay By: Wes Anderson
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Producers: Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, John Peet
Synopsis: The story of a family and a family business.
Starring: Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Liesl, his daughter/a nun; Michael Cera as Bjorn, their tutor. With: Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis.

FOCUS FEATURES RETEAMS WITH WES ANDERSON AND INDIAN PAINTBRUSH FOR THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME COMING TO THEATRES MAY 30, 2025.

Focus Features has landed the worldwide distribution rights to THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, the next film from Wes Anderson. In addition to directing, Anderson wrote the script with the story co-written by Roman Coppola. The deal marks the third major collaboration between Focus, Anderson, and Indian Paintbrush, who also partnered on Anderson’s most recent feature, ASTEROID CITY, and the 2012 hit MOONRISE KINGDOM, which were both written by Anderson and Coppola.

Focus will distribute the film domestically with a limited release on May 30, 2025 and wide expansion on June 6th. Universal Pictures International is handling international distribution.

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. The story of a family and a family business. Starring: Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, his daughter/a nun; Michael Cera as Bjorn Lund, their tutor. With: Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME was produced by Anderson for his American Empirical Pictures banner alongside longtime collaborators Steven Rales of Indian Paintbrush, Jeremy Dawson, and John Peet. The movie was filmed in Germany in association with Studio Babelsberg.

Hot off its win last night at the Academy Awards for Best Short Film, we get a new Trailer for THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR AND THREE MORE! Oscar®-winning short, THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR is included!

WES ANDERSON ON WINNING HIS FIRST OSCAR®:
“If I could have been there, I (along with Steven Rales) would have said “Thank you” to: the family of Roald Dahl; the team at Netflix; our cast and crew; and also: if i had not met Owen Wilson in a corridor at the University of Texas between classes when I was 18 years old, I would certainly not be receiving this award tonight — but unfortunately Steven and I are in Germany and we start shooting our new movie early tomorrow morning, so I did not actually receive the award or get a chance to say any of that.” -Wes Anderson

WES ANDERSON ON THE ANTHOLOGY:
“It was a special pleasure to (extremely faithfully) adapt four of Roald Dahl’s marvellous short stories. I am delighted to present them now as an ANTHOLOGY — also featuring an original song by Jarvis Cocker: “Roald Dahl’s Rules For Being a Fiction Writer.”- Wes Anderson

THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR AND THREE MORE:
LOGLINE: Four spellbinding tales unfold in writer-director Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl’s beloved stories.

THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR AND THREE MORE
DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson
WRITER: Wes Anderson
PRODUCERS: Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
CO-PRODUCERS: Octavia Peissel, John Peet, Alice Dawson
CAST OF HENRY SUGAR: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Sir Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade
CAST OF THE SWAN: Rupert Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Asa Jennings
CAST OF THE RATCATCHER: Richard Ayoade, Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Friend
CAST OF POISON: Dev Patel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Sir Ben Kingsley

Netflix releases THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR AND THREE MORE March 15, 2024.

Today we get a brand-new Trailer for THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR, the latest from Wes Anderson. Arriving September 27, 2023 on Netflix.

Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson
Producers: Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
Co-Producers: Octavia Peissel, John Peet, Alice Dawson
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade
Runtime: 39 mins
Logline: A beloved Roald Dahl short story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar will be released on Netflix September 27, 2023. Today we get a first look at artwork for Venice, from this latest effort from Wes Anderson.

ABOUT:
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson
Producers: Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
Co-Producers: Octavia Peissel, John Peet, Alice Dawson
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade
Runtime: 39 mins
Logline: A beloved Roald Dahl story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

By Amanda Gilmore

Visionary Director Wes Anderson delivers a witty Sci-Fi about loneliness.

Asteroid City is about a TV show broadcast about a play that’s about people visiting a place called Asteroid City. Yes, you read the correctly. In typical quirky Anderson fashion, he brings us into this story through a character telling a story. In so doing, he delivers layers of themes that merge into one universal look at humanity.

Anderson first introduces us to a black-and-white TV Show with a story being told by a Broadcast Host played brilliantly by Bryan Cranston. He tells us about a playwright (Edward Norton) who was in search of a cast to perform in his new play that had yet to have a name — ahem…it becomes titled Asteroid City. Anderson then pulls back the curtain and brings us into the play, broken down with title card Acts and Scenes, and the familiar world of vibrant colour we’ve come to expect from the visionary arrives.

The play is about Augie (a fantastic Jason Schwartzman) who’s driving to Asteroid City with his son Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and three daughters. Woodrow is going to be awarded a medal at the Junior Stargazer convention in the town. When they arrive, Augie informs his children that their mother passed away three-weeks prior. This is the first indication of a slightly darker tone for Anderson even while being in this enchanting colourful world. He examines themes such as grief, loneliness and slight apathy.

While in a diner in-town, Augie and Woodrow meet actress Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson) and her daughter (Grace Edwards). Johansson excels in this quirky role that we rarely get to see her play. Her character is quite meta as she’s an actress who’s playing an actress in the play Asteroid City.

Augie and Midge slowly build a kinship as they often meet in the windows of their adjoining rentals. Angie runs lines with Midge as she rehearses for her next big role. Frustrated that he isn’t giving much emotion, Augie finally confesses. He hasn’t been feeling much of anything since his wife’s death. This leads Midge to tell him to use that grief and put it into the character.

For all of the spectacular visuals in Asteroid City, this is the most beautiful thing Anderson has delivered. This is a small but powerful message of how art can help channel emotional pain. He cements this theme when we return to black and white. As the actor playing Augie steps backstage and out on a balcony. He runs into the actress (Margot Robbie) who was going to play his wife before they decided to kill off her character. With only this scene, Robbie captivates as she delivers a monologue about the grief of losing the role but the fact that she’s now at a different production just next door. Things end but you need to feel and work through the emotions to move forward.

Anderson’s packed in quite an Ensemble that whom knock it out of the park. He also delivers on the Sci-Fi front. With a few scenes that are such fun that you’ll be craving more.

Asteroid City screens at Cannes ’23:

Tue May 23 at 7PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 24 at 8:30AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 24 at 8:30AM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

Wed May 24 at 2:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 24 at 4PM at CINEUM IMAX

Thu May 25 at 2PM at CINEUM AURORE

Sat May 27 at 3:15PM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

Visionary Wes Anderson is back with yet another feast for the senses in ASTEROID CITY. Today, we get a new Poster!

Details:

Director: Wes Anderson
Screenwriters: Wes Anderson / Story by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola
Producers: Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Jeff Goldblum
Story: ASTEROID CITY takes place in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. Synopsis:
The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures will release Asteroid City in select theatres on Friday, June 16, 2023
nationwide on Friday, June 23, 2023. Here’s a look at the new Poster and the brand-new Trailer!

Director: Wes Anderson
Screenwriters: Wes Anderson / Story by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola
Producers: Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Jeff Goldblum
Story: ASTEROID CITY takes place in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. Synopsis: The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

(Photo credit: Focus Features/Universal Pictures)