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Wes Anderson’s Espionage Comedy ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Debuts Globally with Mixed Reviews

Premiered at Cannes, the film charts a tycoon’s bid to recruit his nun-turned daughter through a series of globe-spanning espionage setpieces.

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Overview

  • The film premiered at Cannes on May 18 before opening in the UK on May 23, launching in limited U.S. release on May 30, and beginning a wide U.S. rollout on June 6 with Singapore screenings starting June 5.
  • Benicio del Toro stars as Zsa-zsa Korda, a ruthless arms dealer whose survival drive leads him to enlist his estranged daughter as heir.
  • Mia Threapleton makes her first feature lead appearance as Korda’s daughter and said she was starstruck by Tom Hanks’s on-set anecdotes about Saving Private Ryan.
  • Critics have praised Anderson’s distinctive visuals and ensemble performances while registering mixed views on the film’s narrative depth.
  • On set, del Toro recalled initial reservations about Anderson’s plan to feature him in every shot; Murray’s impromptu Eric Clapton soundtrack prompted the director to restrict music to classical pieces.