Wes Anderson is back, and, some say, in his best form. The Phoenician Scheme, his latest star-stuffed black comedy, hits cinemas this Friday (May 30) after a triumphant world premiere at Cannes last weekend.
The espionage story stars Benicio del Toro as eccentric industrialist Zsa-zsa Korda, a man who shocks the business world by naming his only daughter – a nun – as sole heir to his estate.
Played by Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet’s daughter), Sister Liesl soon finds herself drawn into a surreal web of scheming tycoons, shadowy princes, and old-school assassins. There are hidden codes, exploding envelopes, and tension.
Also in the mix is a ridiculously star-studded cast: Michael Cera is Nordic analyst Bjørn Lund, Riz Ahmed plays Prince Farouk, Tom Hanks is a CIA-style fixer called Leland, Bryan Cranston is an untrustworthy politician named Reagan, and Bill Murray returns, this time as God.
There’s also Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar, Richard Ayoade as a government translator, Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda to round out the cast.
Shot at the legendary Babelsberg Studios in Germany across spring 2024, The Phoenician Scheme was originally written before the 2023 writers’ strike, with Anderson collaborating once again with Roman Coppola.
Critics have already started circling it as a Palme d’Or contender, with plenty of chatter coming out of Cannes following its May 18 premiere. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
It’s already being hailed as one of Anderson’s best, with the Telegraph giving it a glowing 5-star review and calling it “a complete delight”. TimeOut gave it a solid 4/5, writing: “Watching this Anderson extravaganza is like assembling a meticulously detailed puzzle: at times frustrating, but deeply rewarding when the full picture comes together.”
Paste Magazine rated it 8.4/10 and called it “a joy to behold,” while Screendaily singled out the del Toro-Anderson collaboration as a highlight, calling the whole thing a “stylish espionage comedy-drama.”
Not everyone was entirely sold. The Jam Report gave it a more reserved 3/5, praising its visual design and boldness but admitting that it occasionally leaves the audience “emotionally stranded.” But even that review conceded it was “hard not to admire the sheer audacity of the thing.”
With a Rotten Tomatoes score already sitting at 77%, and a box office run beginning this weekend, The Phoenician Scheme could quietly become one of Anderson’s biggest hits in years.
The Phoenician Scheme arrives in cinemas this Friday, May 30.