Ever watched a Wes Anderson movie and wondered how many times Jason Schwartzman has appeared in Anderson’s other films? Or precisely how movies have starred both Schwartzman and Bill Murray (hint: there have been six such films).
Several of the director’s mainstays will appear in Anderson’s next movie, “Asteroid City,” which made its world debut May 23 at the Cannes Film Festival and is due in theaters June 16. The space-themed movie, set in 1955 in a fictional southwestern town known for its large impact crater, follows the story of locals and young scientists gathered for “Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention” that gets disrupted.
The movie will also feature first-timers to a Wes Anderson ensemble cast, including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Hong Chau. Bryan Cranston and Scarlett Johansson, who both had voice roles in Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs,” will make their first on-camera appearances.
Ranking the films:Every eccentric and quirky Wes Anderson movie ranked
Wes Anderson’s 11 feature films
Anderson has produced 11 feature films, beginning in 1996 with his directorial debut, a comedy crime movie called “Bottle Rocket.” The movies are known for Anderson’s signature style — quirky dialogue, whip-pan camera movements, visually striking locations, richly layered stories and colorful characters.
Another distinction of his movies, however, is the regular bullpen of stars who make up his casts, perhaps consistent consistent enough to give rise to the recent creepy AI trend of applying Anderson’s aesthetic — and cast lists — to a number of classic movies.
How the casts stack up
In all, 28 actors have appeared in three or more Anderson movies, and 10 of those actors have appeared in at least five Anderson movies. Actor Bill Murray appeared in his first Anderson movie alongside then-rookie actor Jason Schwartzman in 1998’s “Rushmore,” Anderson’s second movie. Murray’s nine appearances put him ahead of Schwartzman and Owen Wilson, who have seven appearances each.
Bill Murray, originally cast in “Asteroid City,” reportedly dropped out due to COVID-19 just ahead of the shooting in Spain in 2022.
SOURCES Internet Movie Database (IMDB); Getty Images
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