Wes Anderson, Benicio Del Toro’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Cannes Premiere Draws Polite Ovation

by

Wes Anderson has yet again entertained Cannes.

This past Sunday evening, I was part of the electrifying crowd at the Lumière Theatre, where the highly anticipated movie “The Phoenician Scheme” by the talented director premiered. Even stars like Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, and Riz Ahmed rolled up on a bus, making it an unforgettable night!

Alongside Anderson, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Rupert Friend, co-writer Roman Coppola, and composer Alexandre Desplat gathered on the Palais steps prior to the premiere.

OR

On the Palais steps before the premiere, Anderson was accompanied by Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Rupert Friend, co-writer Roman Coppola, and composer Alexandre Desplat.

OR

Gathered on the Palais steps prior to the premiere were Anderson, along with Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Rupert Friend, co-writer Roman Coppola, and composer Alexandre Desplat.

OR

Before the premiere, a group that included Anderson, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Rupert Friend, co-writer Roman Coppola, and composer Alexandre Desplat assembled on the Palais steps.

OR

The Palais steps saw Anderson joined by Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, Rupert Friend, co-writer Roman Coppola, and composer Alexandre Desplat ahead of the premiere.

Each of these sentences conveys the same information but in a slightly different way to keep the text interesting and varied.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival receptions for competition films have, on the whole, been rather subdued. Anderson received a six-minute round of polite applause. Mia Threapleton was visibly emotional, embracing Michael Cera during the applause. Once the clapping subsided, Anderson took a moment to express his gratitude towards his cast.

The applause for this year’s Cannes Film Festival competition films has been soft. Anderson got a six-minute round of polite clapping. Mia Threapleton cried and hugged Michael Cera during the clapping. After everyone stopped, Anderson thanked his cast.

Before the film began, Anderson and his team were lively and cheerful, stepping out onto the steps of the Palais, bidding adieu to the weekend with a friendly wave along the Croisette.

The Phoenician Scheme represents Anderson’s fourth appearance at Cannes, following Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).

Anderson has shown his work at Cannes four times, with The Phoenician Scheme being the latest addition to his list of appearances, which already includes Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).

Beginning on May 30 through Focus Features, the upcoming film features Benicio Del Toro portraying Zsa-Zsa Korda, a European magnate who amassed an international empire by employing questionable business tactics. Director Wes Anderson recently shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he envisioned Del Toro in the role of a Euro business tycoon, reminiscent of characters in Antonioni films.

He fit it perfectly; I could recognize him with his sunglasses. The primary motivations – alongside a few genuine European entrepreneurs – were indeed diverse. However, the personal influence that resonated most deeply was my father-in-law, Fouad Malouf. He was Lebanese and possessed an extraordinary, larger-than-life charm. I held him in high regard.

Following another narrow escape from an assassination plot, del Toro’s character chooses his estranged daughter Liesl, a nun on the verge of taking her vows portrayed by Mia Threapleton, as his estate’s heir. Actors such as Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bryan Cranston, and Tom Hanks reprise their roles in this production too.

In an interview for THR’s ‘rising star’ profile, Threapleton commented on her acting experience: “It was thrilling as a performer to experiment within scenes, test new ideas, and delve into things with the multitude of gifted individuals she worked alongside.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13th to the 24th, saw the grand premieres of The Phoenician Scheme alongside notable films such as Die, My Love, Eddington, The Chronology of Water, Nouvelle Vague, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Read More

2025-05-18 22:24