Some of our favorite filmmakers are working at an insane pace right now. Claire Denis released two films in 2022 (“Both Sides of The Blade,” “Stars At Noon”), Yorgos Lanthimos could probably release two films in 2023 if he wanted (“Poor Things” is definitely coming next year and “And” has already been shot), and Wes Anderson’s moving at a clip too. Yesterday evening Focus Features revealed that Anderson’s next film, “Asteroid City,” has set a limited theatrical release on June 16, 2023, with a wider expansion set for June 23, 2023. Focus, in partnership with Indian Paintbrush, will distribute the film domestically, with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.
Anderson has already shot the follow-up, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” which is a Netflix film likely coming out in 2024 (details here if you’re curious), but obviously, he’s already got another one in the chamber first. “Asteroid City” debuting in June likely means it’ll be more than ready to make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Anderson’s previous film, “The French Dispatch,” debuted there in 2021.
READ MORE: ‘Asteroid City’: Bill Murray Dropped Out Of Wes Anderson’s New Movie Due To COVID
All Wes Anderson films tend to have big casts these days, but “Asteroid City” is arguably his biggest, featuring new names that he hasn’t worked with before, like Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks (who have top billing), along with Margot Robbie. If you’re a longtime observer of Anderson’s all-star ensembles, much of the rest of the cast will feel familiar, names like Jason Schwartzman, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Ed Norton, Adrien Brody, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Willem Dafoe, Tony Revolori, and Jeff Goldblum. But there are lots of new names and faces new to Anderson’s troupe of actors as well, including Steve Carell, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Maya Hawke, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Jake Ryan, Grace Edwards, Aristou Meehan, Sophia Lillis, Ethan Lee, and Rita Wilson.
Bill Murray was initially scheduled to be in the film but had to drop out at the last minute due to COVID-19 issues; it’ll be the first Wes Anderson film he hasn’t been in since “Rushmore,” the filmmaker’s second picture.
Written and directed by Anderson, “Asteroid City” is based on a story by Anderson and a longtime writing companion Roman Coppola. The film is produced by Anderson and longtime collaborators Steven Rales, founder of Indian Paintbrush, and Jeremy Dawson.
While details have been known before, the film has an official synopsis too. “Asteroid City” takes place in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
Sold. June 16, 2023, can’t come fast enough and bet that Cannes comes first.