‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Trailer: Wes Anderson Unveils Absurdist Father-Daughter Tale With All-Star Cast and Signature Style

Wes Anderson is back—and as visually distinct and narratively curious as ever. The trailer for his new film, The Phoenician Scheme, has dropped, offering a kaleidoscopic glimpse into a story about family ties, secrets, and stylishly staged chaos.

The film stars Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, a wildly eccentric European business magnate whose wealth is matched only by the surreal drama surrounding his life. Enter his daughter, Sister Liesel, played by rising star Mia Threapleton, a nun who’s long since distanced herself from her father’s empire. But fate—and a tangled scheme of epic proportions—pulls her back into his orbit.

Assisting her on this strange journey is Michael Cera as Bjorn Lund, her mild-mannered tutor who soon finds himself swept up in an unfolding web of mystery and absurdity. And true to form, Anderson surrounds this trio with a star-studded ensemble that includes Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Riz Ahmed, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Mathieu Amalric, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

A Familiar Frame, A Fresh Story

Shot in Germany, The Phoenician Scheme reunites Anderson with his longtime collaborators: co-writer Roman Coppola, composer Alexandre Desplat, and producers Jeremy Dawson and Steven Rales. The film blends signature Anderson symmetry and storybook visuals with international intrigue, spiritual disillusionment, and family dysfunction—filtered through the quirky, deadpan lens that only Anderson can deliver.

The trailer promises everything fans expect: intricate set pieces, pastel palettes, whip-smart dialogue, and moments of striking emotional clarity amid stylized madness. There’s also action—absurd, precise, and surreal—with explosions, catacombs, and a suspicious number of antique rotary phones.

Anderson, who won his first Oscar in 2024 for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, continues to expand his universe while staying rooted in the offbeat rhythms that define his work.

Release and Reception

The Phoenician Scheme opens in limited release on May 30, followed by a wider expansion on June 6 via Focus Features, which previously released Moonrise Kingdom and Asteroid City. With early buzz already swelling after the trailer’s debut, it looks like Anderson’s latest might once again captivate critics and indie audiences alike.

For viewers craving clever character dynamics, elaborate mise-en-scène, and the kind of dialogue that dances between comedy and melancholy, The Phoenician Scheme might just be the year’s most stylish cinematic escape.