Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme Stars Del Toro, Hanks, Premieres Cannes

Wes Anderson's latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival with a star-studded cast led by Benicio Del Toro, who plays Anatole “Zsa Zsa” Korda, a ruthless 1950s European billionaire known for surviving plane crashes and assassination attempts. The film follows Korda's efforts to secure funding for a grand infrastructure project in the Middle East while navigating threats from enemies and strained relations with his estranged daughter, Liesl, a nun in training and his chosen sole heir. Anderson’s signature whimsical style is evident in the film’s meticulous visual design and novelistic structure, although the tone is more somber and restrained, reflecting themes of greed, immorality, and legacy. The ensemble cast also includes Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, and others, with Anderson building the film around Del Toro’s magnetic presence. Critics noted the film’s intricate production design, including carefully integrated visual elements such as typeface and set details, which enhance the storytelling. The Phoenician Scheme continues Anderson’s tradition of quirky, chapter-divided narratives while exploring darker, more melancholic themes.