Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme' Premieres at Cannes 2025

Wes Anderson presented his latest film 'The Phoenician Scheme' at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, marking his fourth competition entry. The film follows a powerful European magnate, played by Benicio del Toro, who survives an assassination attempt and seeks to reconnect with his daughter, a nun portrayed by Mia Threapleton, to groom her as his cynical heir. The episodic narrative moves through locations like a ship, hotel, mine, and casino, structured like a vintage video game. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Michael Cera. Anderson describes the film as inspired by 1950s tycoons like Onassis and Niarchos. The visual style is described as metaphysical, candy-colored painting in motion, reminiscent of Alex Katz and David Hockney, with a palette of turquoise, pink, lilac, and light brown. The film is co-written with Roman Coppola, marking their fifth collaboration. Anderson's work is noted for its slapstick physical comedy and melancholic critique of extreme wealth, though it avoids offering solutions.