Wes Anderson’s movies are known for featuring ensemble casts with many actors working with the director repeatedly. His new movie, The Phoenician Scheme, is no different. While there are some new faces joining the Anderson gang, there are some regulars coming back for round two (or three or four or 11, in one case).
The Phoenician Scheme—which hits theaters in limited release on May 30 before a wide release on June 6—is set in 1950 and follows Zsa-zsa Korda, a wealthy businessman, who decides to make his estranged daughter, Liesl, into his successor amid multiple assassination attempts against him. The two reconnect as they travel across “Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia” to work on Zsa-zsa’s projects. On their journey, they tackle mysteries from their pasts and threats from their present, coming into contact with a collection of unique characters along the way. Read on to learn more about the movie and its impressive cast.
Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda
Benicio del Toro stars as Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda, a rich industrialist, who is one of the wealthiest people in Europe. But he is not just sought after for his skills in business, he’s also being hunted down for his crimes and misdeeds.
Del Toro is has starred in movies, including Traffic, 21 Grams, Sin City, and Sicario, and he plays the Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is his second Wes Anderson film after The French Dispatch.
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Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl
Zsa-zsa’s daughter is Liesl, a nun with whom he reunites after several years apart. He plans to make her the successor to his business empire.
Liesl is played by Mia Threapleton. She appeared in the TV series Dangerous Liaisons, and acted alongside her mother, Kate Winslet, in the movie A Little Chaos and in an episode of the anthology series I Am… This is her first Wes Anderson film.
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Michael Cera as Bjorn
Bjorn is Zsa-zsa’s tutor, a Norwegian man, who is also an insect expert. He joins Zsa-zsa and Liesl on their journey.
Michael Cera plays Bjorn. The actor is known for roles in Superbad, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Barbie, and for the TV comedy Arrested Development. This is his first Wes Anderson film.
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Riz Ahmed as Prince Farouk
Riz Ahmed plays Prince Farouk—from the “Territory of His Majesty the 7th King of Lower Western Independent Phoenicia”—who is working on a train project with Zsa-zsa.
Ahmed starred in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Sound of Metal, and the TV show The Night Of. This is his first Wes Anderson film.
Instagram: @rizahmed
Tom Hanks as Leland
Leland is an American businessman, who is involved in the same train project as Prince Farouk.
Tom Hanks plays Leland. You may have heard of him thanks to movies like Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away. This is his second Wes Anderson film after Asteroid City.
Instagram: @tomhanks
Bryan Cranston as Reagan
Reagan is Leland’s brother and business partner.
Reagan’s played by Bryan Cranston, who is known for the TV series Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad, and for movies including Godzilla, Trumbo, and Argo. This is his third Wes Anderson film after Isle of Dogs and Asteroid City.
Instagram: @bryancranston
Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob
Marseille Bob is a French nightclub owner and gang leader, whose club is another stop on Zsa-zsa’s journey.
Bob is portrayed by Mathieu Amalric, who has starred in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Munich, and the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. This is his third Wes Anderson film after The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch.
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Richard Ayoade as Sergio
Sergio is a leader of the Intercontinental Radical Freedom Militia Corps, a group that comes into contact with Zsa-zsa and his crew.
Comedian, director, and actor Richard Ayoade plays Sergio. He is best known for the TV series The IT Crowd, and has also had roles in The Souvenir and Paddington 2. This is his second Wes Anderson film after The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More.
Instagram: @perhapsthehumblestguy
Jeffrey Wright as Marty
Marty is another American businessman, who is part of a waterway project with Zsa-zsa.
Jeffrey Wright plays Marty. The actor is known for starring in Angels in America (on Broadway and in the miniseries adaptation), The Batman, American Fiction, and as Beetee Latier in the Hunger Games franchise. This is his third Wes Anderson film after The French Dispatch and Asteroid City.
Instagram: @jfreewright
Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda
Hilda is Zsa-zsa’s second cousin, who is overseeing a hydroelectric project under Zsa-zsa’s purview.
Cousin Hilda is played by Scarlett Johansson, who you know from Lost in Translation, Marriage Story, and as Black Widow in the MCU. This is her third Wes Anderson film after Isle of Dogs and Asteroid City.
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Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar
Also part of the personal life side of Zsa-zsa’s story is Uncle Nubar, his brother.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays Nubar. The actor is known as Doctor Strange in the MCU, and for starring in The Imitation Game and The Power of the Dog. This is his second Wes Anderson film after The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More.
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Rupert Friend as Excalibur
Excalibur is the code name for a secret agent character, played by Rupert Friend, who is investigating Zsa-zsa.
Friend is known for roles in Pride & Prejudice, The Young Victoria, and the TV series Homeland. This is his fourth Wes Anderson film after The French Dispatch, Asteroid City, and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More.
Instagram: @rupertfriend
Hope Davis as Mother Superior
The Mother Superior at the convent where Liesl is a nun is played by Hope Davis.
Davis has appeared in the movies American Splendor, Synecdoche, New York, and Captain America: Civil War. This is her second Wes Anderson film after Asteroid City.
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Bill Murray as God
In addition to the 13 actors above who get top billing, the movie also includes some small roles from a few Anderson regulars. Bill Murray appears as God in his 11th Anderson film. (Or tenth, sort of? He’s only kind of in Asteroid City.) The only movies from the director Murray is not in are Anderson’s first movie, Bottle Rocket, and his anthology movie The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More.
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Willem Dafoe as Knave
Willem Dafoe plays Knave, marking his sixth time in an Anderson film. He also appeared in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Asteroid City.
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F. Murray Abraham as Prophet
Lastly, F. Murray Abraham plays Prophet. It’s his third Anderson film after The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs.
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