Wes Andersonis reuniting withBill MurrayandBenicio Del Torofor his next feature, withMichael Ceraalso set to star. This will mark theBarbieactor’s first time working under Anderson’s direction. The film, the title of which is yet to be released, is scheduled to commence production later this year,Deadlinereports. Anderson and frequent collaborator Roman Coppola have co-written the upcoming project. Anderson and Coppola first worked together on 2004’sThe Life Acquatic with Zissou, and expanded their partnership through joint efforts onThe Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom,the animated featureIsle of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch,andAsteroid City.
News of Del Toro and Cera’s starring roles in the film is no surprise, as Anderson previously confirmed their participation.During a 2023 interview, ahead of the release of his anthology adaptation of Roald Dahl’s short story collectionThe Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More,which featured three shorts for Netflix, Aderson shared:
“Well, before the Writer’s Guild strike began, we had just finished a script. Roman Coppola and I had been working on a script. So, when the time is right again, we’ve got a movie to make with Benicio Del Toro.”
When asked if there were any actors he had never worked with that he would like to collaborate with on future projects, the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker shared:
“Well, you know, we have Michael Cera. He’s one of the other characters in this new story. And he’s somebody I probably met, I think, close to 20 years ago. At least 18 years ago, something like that. I met him with Harvey Keitel, so it must have been 2008 or something. But, anyway, Michael Cera. That’s one.”
During the interview, he said he did not want to yet reveal the project’s name.
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Bill Murray & Wes Anderson Reunite After The French Dispatch
The French Dispatch
While Murray’s participation in Anderson’s upcoming project is breaking news, it’s not surprisinggiven the two men’s extensive list of collaborations. Anderson and Murray first joined forces for 1998’sRushmore.The critically lauded film earned Anderson and Murray awards at the 1999 Independent Spirit Awards (for Best Director and Best Supporting Male, respectively). His portrayal of quirky industrialist Herman Blume also earned Murray a Golden Globe nod for Best Supporting Actor.
Rushmoremarked the beginning of a notable partnership, as Murray went on to appear in 2001’sThe Royal Tenenbaums, 2004’sThe Life Acquatic with Zissou, 2007’sThe Darjeeling Limited, 2009’sFantastic Mr. Fox, 2012’sMoonrise Kingdom, 2014’sThe Grand Budapest, 2018’sIsle of Dogs, and 2021’sThe French Dispatch.However, Murray did not appear in Anderson’s last film,the Palme d’Or nominatedAsteroid City.
While Del Toro’s history with Anderson is nowhere near as rich as Murray’s, he starred in 2021’sThe French Dispatchas imprisoned artist Moses Rosenthaler (Murray appeared in the film as Arthur Howitzer Jr., the editor of theFrench Dispatch).
No plot details have been released for Anderson’s upcoming movie, but the project is expected to go into production this year.
