Kristina Roberts
At the Cannes Film Festival, famous director Wes Anderson shared his thoughts about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s idea to put heavy taxes on movies made outside America. Since Anderson now lives and works in Europe, this rule could affect his films. But instead of getting upset, he seemed more confused than anything else.
When asked about the tariffs, Wes Anderson said, “The tariff is fascinating. I’ve never heard of a 100% tariff. I feel that he’s saying he’s going to take all the money, and then what do we get?” He smiled and shrugged, adding, “It’s complicated to me. Can you hold up the movie in customs? I want to know the details first. And I’ll hold off on my official answer.”
Anderson was at Cannes for his new movie, The Phoenician Scheme, which had its big premiere there. He was joined by actors like Benedict Cumberbatch, Benicio del Toro, Riz Ahmed, Michael Cera, and others for a press conference. The film is about a rich man, played by Del Toro, who keeps getting attacked and comes up with a strange plan to protect his fortune.
Wes Anderson’s Unique Style
Some people say all of Anderson’s movies look the same because of their colorful and quirky style. When asked about this, he admitted he understands why people think that way. “Someone said they watch the trailers from my movies and could tell in five seconds it was my movie,” he said. “I can’t pretend I don’t know what they’re talking about, but for me, each movie is very different.”
Benedict Cumberbatch, who worked with Anderson before, called his film sets “a charmed place of invention.” He explained that acting in Anderson’s movies is different because everything is very precise. “It’s a constraint that’s also a Zen-like discipline, where you have to strike away everything you thought you should do with the character,” Cumberbatch said.
Riz Ahmed, another actor in the film, described the experience as “dreamlike.” “The characters are so vivid and yet so distinctive. The situations, the plot—it all feels heightened,” he said. He also joked, “And you also want to steal all the props.”
Behind the Scenes of The Phoenician Scheme
Benicio del Toro plays the lead role in the movie—a wealthy man named Zsa-zsa Korda who is always in danger. Del Toro talked about how fun it was to work with Anderson. “The main thing is that I get to channel the kid in me to really explode, and that’s unique as an actor,” he said.
He also shared a funny story about filming a bathtub scene. Anderson told him, “It’s going to be shot in slow motion, but I need you to act really fast.” Del Toro was confused at first. “I thought, if we’re going to act really fast and you’re going to shoot it in slow motion, isn’t that the same as doing it normally?” He laughed and added, “It isn’t. Fast and slow doesn’t make real. It makes something new.”
New Projects and Possible Sequels
Anderson also hinted at some new projects he’s working on. At one point, he mentioned writing a new script with Roman Coppola and Richard Ayoade but didn’t give any details. “Roman and Richard and I are working on a script together, but I’m not going to tell you anything about it,” he said.
When asked if he would team up again with Michael Cera, who acted in The Phoenician Scheme, both said yes. Anderson even made them shake hands in front of everyone to make it official.
Then, a reporter asked if he would ever make a sequel to any of his old movies. Anderson suddenly announced, “We’ll do ‘The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou 2,’” and sealed the promise with another handshake.
Wes Anderson’s press conference was full of humor and interesting behind-the-scenes stories. While he didn’t seem too worried about Trump’s proposed tariffs, he made it clear he wants to understand how they would work before giving a strong opinion.
His new movie, The Phoenician Scheme, continues his tradition of quirky, visually stunning films. With a star-studded cast and his unique directing style, fans are excited to see what he does next—whether it’s a sequel to The Life Aquatic or something completely new.
Anderson’s films may look similar to some, but for him, each one is a fresh adventure. And for the actors who work with him, it’s always a memorable experience—full of creativity, strange directions, and maybe even the urge to take home a few props.
