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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jake Hackney

Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City: release date, trailer, cast and everything you need to know

The first official trailer for Wes Anderson’s latest film has finally dropped online. Set for release later this year, the romantic comedy-drama Asteroid City marks the writer-director's eleventh feature film, following 2021’s The French Dispatch.

The American auteur has become known for his eccentric projects with a unique and instantly recognisable visual style, with his works often classed as examples of postmodernism. His best-known films include The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the stop-motion animations Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs.

Anderson has received a host of award nominations and wins throughout his nearly 30-year career, with his most fruitful awards season coming in 2015 when he bagged four Oscars and five BAFTAs for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Asteroid City marks his eleventh time in the director’s chair, with the story co-written with Roman Coppola, the son of The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola.

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Filming took place in Spain between August and October 2021 with an ensemble cast said to be larger than most of his previous films. Here, we break down everything you need to know about Asteroid City:

What is Asteroid City about?

Asteroid City is described as a poetic meditation on the meaning of life, following the story of a fictional American desert town around 1955. The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention – organised to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition – is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.

Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks star in Asteroid City (Universal Pictures)

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Who is in Asteroid City?

Anderson continually succeeds in attracting a stellar ensemble cast for his films, and Asteroid City is no different. It sees the return of many of his regular collaborators, including Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Willem Dafoe, Tony Revolori and Bob Balaban.

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars will also feature, including Tom Hanks and Margot Robbie who are working with Anderson for the first time. Also starring are Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Steve Carell, Jeff Goldblum and Jeffrey Wright, who reunites with the director following his role in The French Dispatch.

Steve Carell in Asteroid City (Universal Pictures)

They will star alongside Liev Schreiber, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Rita Wilson and many more. Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker will also appear, marking his third film with Anderson following roles in Fantastic Mr. Fox and The French Dispatch.

Comedy icon Bill Murray – one of Anderson’s most frequent collaborators – was set to feature but was forced to drop out after contracting Covid-19 shortly before production.

Is there a trailer for Asteroid City?

The first trailer for Asteroid City dropped online on Wednesday (March 29), and can be viewed here:

When is Asteroid City released?

Asteroid City is slated for release this summer, after premiering at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May. It is set for a limited release in the US on June 16 before hitting cinemas in the UK on June 23.

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