Wes Andersonis back this summer withThe Phoenician Scheme. The first trailer from the indie filmmaker’s new espionage thriller debuted at CinemaCon today, and Collider’sBritta DeVoreis on the scene. The film opens in limited release on June 11, 2025, before opening wide on June 7.
In the new trailer, a man (Benicio del Toro) lies in a cornfield following a plane crash. Barely surviving the accident, he decides that he must choose his successor. That successor will be his daughter, who is somewhat inconveniently a nun.Benedict Cumberbatchpops in with a ridiculous beard while an assassin comes for everything del Toro’s character has built during his lifetime. The trailer is shot in Anderson’s now-trademark style, complete with his beloved Futura typeface. The trailer was not released to the public, so you’ll just have to rely on our “surveillance report” to get you up to speed until we get closer toThe Phoenician Scheme’s release date.
Who Are the Creatives Behind ‘The Phoenician Scheme’?
As usual, Anderson is working with many actors who’ve become regulars in his productions, including del Toro, Cumberbatch,Tom Hanks,Bryan Cranston,Jeffrey Wright,Scarlett Johansson,Richard Ayoade,Rupert Friend,Willem Dafoe,Mathieu Almaric, and, of course,Bill Murray, who has been in almost every Anderson movie sinceRushmore. Newcomers to the Anderson ensemble includeMichael Cera(Scott Pilgrim vs. The World),Mia Threapleton(Firebrand),Riz Ahmed(Sound of Metal),Hope Davis(Your Honor),Charlotte Gainsbourg(Antichrist),Tonio Arango(Spy City), andAysha Joy Samuel(Tribes of Europa). Co-writing the script with Anderson is frequent collaboratorRoman Coppola, who has co-written five previous films with the director, starting withThe Darjeeling Limited. The film will be scored byAlexandre Desplat, who has provided the music for many of Anderson’s previous films. The film began shooting last spring, which meant that Anderson had to miss being awarded his first-ever Academy Award.
Anderson’s last film was 2024’sThe Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More, an anthology film adapted from the short stories ofRoald Dahl; it premiered on Netflix to wide acclaim.The Phoenician Schemewill be his first theatrical release since 2023’sAsteroid City, which grossed $54 million on a $25 million budget, and holds a 76% Fresh rating onRotten Tomatoes.In her review, Collider’sTherese Lacsonpraised its visuals, calling it Anderson’s most beautiful film, but found it somewhat aimless.
The Phoenician Schemeopens in limited release on May 30beforeopening wide a week later on June 7. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates, and watch the new trailer forThe Phoenician Schemebelow.
The Phoenician Scheme
