Wes Andersonmust be a director that actors love working with, as there is no other explanation for how he has managed to consistently get such incredible ensembles for his films, with many major actors cast in smaller parts. Although Anderson has many original collaborators, such asOwen WilsonandJason Schwartzman, who he has been working with since the beginning of his career, he has recently developed partnerships with such acclaimed stars asBenicio Del Toro,Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston,andBenedict Cumberbatch. Although it’s rather shocking that he hadn’t made an appearance prior to this summer’s highly anticipatednew spy adventure,The Phoenician Scheme,Michael Cerais perfectly suited to play within Anderson’s quirky sandbox.
Wes Anderson Has an Interesting Casting Process
Anderson’s early films mostly featured the group of actors who had been with him since the beginning, such as Owen and his brotherLuke Wilson, and he steadily developed a positive working relationship withBill Murray, whose career earned a second life following his acclaimed supporting turn inRushmore.Although he has always been scouting out new talent,Anderson doesn’t generally cast established comedy stars,who may have brought their own dynamics to the rolethat could contradict his sense of humor. Instead, Anderson showed an interest in finding actors likeAdrien BrodyandWillem Dafoe, who were known for their more serious work, and giving them the opportunity to subvert expectations about the characters that they were known to play. Given that Cera had mostly played one type of character fromArrested DevelopmenttoSuperbad, Anderson may not have been interested in trying to fit him into his meticulously crafted ensembles.
Bill Murray Is Way of Out of His Depth in This Forgotten Hitchcock Spy Spoof Now Streaming on Prime Video
This spy comedy shouldn’t go unnoticed in Murray’s filmography.
Anderson had traditionallyliked to break new talent, as he offered breakout stars likeLucas Hedges, Jake Ryan, Kara Hayward,andJared Gillamthe opportunity to land their first major roles. Since Cera was already an established movie star by the time that he appeared inJunoandScott Pilgrim vs. The World, Anderson may have been more interested in finding less exposed actors who a viewer may not have had preconceived expectations about going in. However, Anderson has been willing to give comeback roles to actors who have been out of the spotlight, asAsteroid Cityoffered comeback roles forMatt Dillon,Rupert Friend, Bob Balaban,andRita Wilson,among others. Considering that Cera has experienced a slight career dip within the past decade, it makes sense why this is the right time for him to be in an Anderson film.
Michael Cera Is Ready to Star in ‘The Phoenician Scheme'
Cera has matured significantly as an actor in recent years, as he has mostly given upattempts to star in blockbuster filmsin favor of working on more personal projects. In addition to appearing in small, yet critically acclaimed arthouse films likeDream Scenario, Gloria Bell, Tyrel,Sacramento,andPerson to Person, Cera proved he had the talent to work with a director with an extremely exacting vision when he appeared in a standout episode ofTwin Peaks: The ReturnforDavid Lynch. It’s exciting that the actor once typecast as the geeky, heartfelt underdog is now expanding his range in such a dramatic way, soit’s understandable why Anderson would want to take advantage of that.
The Phoenician Schemeappears to be a very different Anderson filmcompared to what he has done before, as while some skeptics claim that he simply does the same thing every time, there is a significant difference in the way that he has approached his most recent films;The Grand Budapest Hotelwas a grandiose adventure epic about the rise of fascism,Isle of Dogsexamined a political coup from the perspective of outsiders,The French Dispatchwas a nostalgic reflection on an era of journalism, andAsteroid Citywas an existentialist meditation on recovering from trauma. While the trailer has indicated thatThe Phoenician Schemeis a spy adventure, the fact that it is also an Anderson film suggests that there will probably be some significant surprises along the way. IfAnderson is continuing to make challenging films that utilize his familiar aesthetic to subvert classical genres,then Cera is a perfect avatar to signify this bold step forward.
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 July 11, 2025.
