Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for ‘The Phoenician Scheme.‘Fresh off his firstOscarwin,Wes Andersonis back with his latest film,The Phoenician Scheme. His new film starsBenicio del Toroas Zsa-zsa Korda, a shrewd businessman with too many close encounters with death. He recruits his estranged daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), to be his sole heir on a trial basis whilehe attempts to salvage his developmental schemethrough meeting his various business partners.
The hallmarks of this auteur’s filmography are more than just the symmetric cinematography, the impressive production design, or the sharp writing.What makes a Wes Anderson film is the whimsical, colorful ensemble of characters that inhabit it. There have been manygreat characters in his movies, andThe Phoenician Schemeis equally filled with distinct characters. With that in mind, let’s celebrate the best characters found in Anderson’s latest creation.
The Phoenician Scheme
The Phoenician Scheme: Set within a complex world of espionage, this film explores the tumultuous father-daughter relationship at the heart of a family business. As secrets unravel, the pair navigates personal and professional challenges in a plot infused with intrigue and deception. Released on June 07, 2025.
10Marseille Bob
Played by Mathieu Amalric
Korda is on a mission to meet with his business partners after a consortium, led by Excalibur (Rupert Friend), fixes the prices of core materials needed for his scheme. Withthe funding deficit known as The Gap in jeopardy, Korda attempts to persuade each of his partners to cover more than their original percentage. One of his partners that he, Liesl, and Bjørn (Michael Cera) meet with is Marseille Bob (Mathieu Amalric).
… Bob is one of Korda’s more amiable partners.
Many should recognize Amalric as Serge X, the butler who originally implicated Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) inThe Grand Budapest Hotel. Here inThe Phoenician Scheme, Bob is one of Korda’s more amiable partners. While he initially pulls out of Korda’s scheme entirely,he changes his mind after Korda takes a bullet for himwhen a group of revolutionists robs his nightclub. While other associates of Korda make more of an impression, Marseille Bob still makes his mark as one that isn’t entirely antagonistic towards Korda.
Played by Jeffrey Wright
Another of Korda’s partners, Marty (Jeffrey Wright) is a fast-talking American who becomes enraged with Korda for changing the terms of their agreement. However, he’s quick to give Korda his own blood after Korda faints from his gunshot wound at Marseille Bob’s nightclub.Korda forcefully negotiates with Marty during a blood transfusionwhile threatening to set off one of his hand grenades he had been giving each of his partners as a gift.
Where he played Roebuck Wright with a calm, cool demeanor, here inThe Phoenician Scheme, Wright brings a manic energy to Marty.
Wright became part of Anderson’s recent troupe of actors during his segment as a food journalist inThe French Dispatch. Where he played Roebuck Wright with a calm, cool demeanor, here inThe Phoenician Scheme, Wright brings a manic energy to Marty. Quick-witted yet volatile,Marty only responds to Korda after Korda pulls the pin out from a hand grenademere inches away from him. Korda might be in control of the situation, but Wright commands his brief minutes onscreen.
Played by Bill Murray
It is a truth universally acknowledged that all great Wes Anderson films featureBill Murray. Although he was noticeably absent inAsteroid City, Murray made his return to the Wes Anderson cinematic universe inThe Phoenician Scheme. This time,he plays God in one of Korda’s visions of the afterlife, where Korda is faced with his many sins, especially involving Liesl.
… He commands the confrontation with Korda without raising his voice.
Murray is barely inThe Phoenician Schemefor a minute. However,it’s the surprise of seeing him on his heavenly throne and his deadpan delivery that make Murray stand out. Not only is it a great cameo from the longtime collaborator–Murray has been in all but one filmsinceRushmore– he commands the confrontation with Korda without raising his voice. Plus, his dry reiteration of being against slavery, saying it the same way as Liesl did earlier in the film, hits the comedic beats you expect from an Anderson film.
7Prince Farouk
Played by Riz Ahmed
The first of Korda’s partners for his lucrative Phoenician scheme that he meets is Prince Farouk (Riz Ahmed), heir to the country. He represents his father in business matters and accompanies Korda, Liesl, and Bjørn to meet with Leland (Tom Hanks) and Reagan (Bryan Cranston) at the underground tunnel site.
Ahmed switches from confidence while flirting with Liesl to a timid insecurity while playing basketball for the first time.
For this being the Oscar nominee’s first time working with Wes Anderson, Ahmed naturally slips into this world well. Ahmed switches from confidence while flirting with Liesl to a timid insecurity while playing basketball for the first time.It’s clear Ahmed understands the rhythm and pace of a typical Anderson character, yet he gives Prince Farouk his own unique personality to stand out for the brief minutes he’s onscreen. We can only hope for more of Ahmed in future Anderson films.
6Uncle Nubar
Played by Benedict Cumberbatch
Everyone loves a good villain, especially one with striking eyebrows and a distinct beard. That’s what audiences get with Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar, Korda’s half-brother who Korda hopes will cover most of The Gap. However,the two have an antagonistic relationship, Nubar being the one behind the many assassination attemptsand trying to murder Korda during the third act. Plus, it’s revealed Nubar is Lisel’s biological father and responsible for the death of her mother.
With his piercing blue eyes, Cumberbatch brings a chilling intensity…
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugarwas proof that Cumberbatch was an obvious match for Wes Anderson’s world of whimsy. Here inThe Phoenician Scheme,Cumberbatch lets loose as a more cartoonish villain. With his piercing blue eyes, Cumberbatch brings a chilling intensity when Nubar meets with Korda and Liesl. This isn’t the first time he’s played a villain, but Nubar is an excellent addition to Cumberbatch’s gallery of antagonists.
5Cousin Hilda
Played by Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johanssonmakes her appearance roughly halfway throughThe Phoenician Schemeas Cousin Hilda. Hoping to convince her to take on more of The Gap, Korda proposes to his second cousin.Although Hilda accepts the proposal, she refuses to take on more of The Gap.
… Audiences understand why Korda would be drawn to this strong-willed woman, and that’s due to Johansson’s adamant resolve.
With her red gingham shirt and obscure European accent,Johansson gives Cousin Hilda a no-nonsense attitude that leaves a striking impression. She rebuffs Korda’s insistence on adjusting her percentage of The Gap just because they’re engaged. Even if it’s more for business than love, audiences understand why Korda would be drawn to this strong-willed woman, and that’s due to Johansson’s adamant resolve.
4Leland and Reagan
Played by Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston
A dynamic duo we didn’t know we needed! Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston are recent additions to Wes Anderson’s acting troupe– Hanks joined withAsteroid Citywhile Bryan Cranston hopped on atIsle of Dogs– but it feels like they’ve been around for decades. InThe Phoenician Scheme, the two acting legends are business partners Leland (Hanks) and Reagan (Cranston),two of Korda’s business partners who are overseeing the development of an underground railway.
Leland and Reagan show off their impressive basketball skills with dry humor while smack-talking Korda and Farouk.
Hanks and Cranston play off each other exceptionally well,handing lines back and forth as they protest Korda changing their initial agreementsin covering The Gap. What’s even better is their serious intensity when they’re challenged to a game of HORSE. Leland and Reagan show off their impressive basketball skills with dry humor while smack-talking Korda and Farouk. Together, these two stand out from Korda’s other partners, and we’d happily watch more of these two in a short film similar toHotel Chevalier.
Played by Mia Threapleton
Mia Threapleton joins the world of Wes Anderson as Korda’s estranged, devout daughter Liesl. Even though she agrees to be her father’s heir on a trial basis,Liesl intends to use her time to be a positive influence on his life and her nine younger brothers. She is firm in her faith, but over the course of the film, Liesl slowly embraces worldly influences into her life. Liesl is just as likely to pull out a knife in defense as she is to sprinkle holy water on a dead body.
Thanks to Threapleton’s sharp, deadpan delivery, Liesl matches her father and his eccentric plans while remaining steadfast to her morals.
At the heart ofThe Phoenician Schemeis the relationship between Korda and Liesl. Although Korda sent her off after her mother’s death, he cares deeply for her and has a hard time showing it. Liesl is shaped by the trauma of losing a mother and a father, embracing life as a nun. Her journey with Korda slowly chips away at the anger she had towards him, and by the end of the movie,Liesl would rather be adopted by Korda and have him in her life than return to the nunnery. Thanks to Threapleton’s sharp, deadpan delivery, Liesl matches her father and his eccentric plans while remaining steadfast to her morals. In Anderson’s recent films, Liesl is one of the rare female characters that will be remembered as one of his best.
2Zsa-zsa Korda
Played by Benicio del Toro
Benicio del Toro steps front and center as Zsa-zsa Korda, a successful businessman yet lousy, inattentive father. After his latest brush with death and visions of the afterlife, Korda makes it his priority to secure his plans for Phoenicia long after he’s gone, which could come sooner rather than later. In doing so, he attempts to salvage his relationship with his business partners, as well as his daughter, Liesl. Throughout his journey,Korda evolves from a selfish man trying to exploit his partners to a selfless man willing to cover The Gap himself, trading his fortune for a simple life with his family.
Korda is one of Wes Anderson’s funniest characters in recent films. Del Toro’s dry delivery mixed with argumentative outbursts set the comedic tone throughoutThe Phoenician Scheme. But it’s not just del Toro’s humor that makes Korda a great character. It’s also his pathos. Del Toro masterfully switches from fun banter with his scene partners to an insightful monologue about Liesl’s mother.Korda carries with him the shame of how he treated his daughter and the relationship he could’ve had with her; he’s confronted by this through his trial in the afterlife. It’s this mix of humor and gravitas that not only makes Korda a great character, but also del Toro an incredible actor that carries the film from start to finish.
1Bjørn Lund
Played by Michael Cera
The best character inThe Phoenician Schemeis without question Bjørn Lund, played by Michael Cera. The Norwegian entomologist and tutor joins Korda as his administrative assistant in charge of carrying Korda’s fortune from place to place.Bjørn is enamored with Liesl, flirting with her over beers and tries to win her affectionsthroughout the film. Even when it’s revealed he’s a double agent working for Excalibur, Bjørn remains loyal to Korda and Liesl, even saving Korda’s life after he’s trapped in quicksand.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Cera was “born” to play Bjørn.
With his Norwegian accent, bowtie, and childlike wonder of insects, Bjørn is the type of unconventional, endearing character you expect to find in an Anderson film. Cera being in a Wes Anderson film makes so much sense, it’s genuinely surprising it took this long for it to happen. Yet the wait was worth it,as Cera steals every scene he’s in. It’s no exaggeration to say that Cera was “born” to play Bjørn. May this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Anderson and Cera.
NEXT:All 12 Wes Anderson Movies, Ranked by How Twee They Are
