Before Wes Anderson skipped this year’s Oscars to film “The Phoenician Scheme” in Germany, fans already knew which actors would be at the heart of the director’s latest ensemble.  Benecio del Toro and Mia Threapleton star as a father and daughter whose family business leads them into a dark espionage tale, with Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, and Anderson regular Bill Murray also starring.  

Continue reading ‘The Phoenician Scheme’: Wes Anderson’s Espionage Flick Reportedly Also Stars Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe & More at The Playlist.

Nominated for seven Academy Awards, filmmaker Wes Anderson won his first Oscar this past weekend, the Best Live Action Short Film for his 33-minute short, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch. But during the Oscar ceremony, Anderson was nowhere to be found and couldn’t accept in person.

Was the director thumbing his nose at the Academy? Not at all. As many suspected, Anderson wasn’t available as he’s about to shoot his new movie, rumored to be called, “The Phoenician Scheme.”

READ MORE: Wes Anderson’s Roald Dahl Shorts Review: The Preciousness Of Wes Anderson-Isms Are Pushed To Their Artisanally-Crafted Limits [Netflix]

“If I could have been there, I (along with [producer] Steven Rales) would have said ‘Thank you’ to: the family of Roald Dahl; the team at Netflix; our cast and crew,” he wrote in a statement, explaining his absence “And also: if I had not met Owen Wilson in a corridor at the University of Texas between classes when I was 18 years old, I would certainly not be receiving this award tonight — but unfortunately, Steven and I are in Germany and we start shooting our new movie early tomorrow morning, so I did not actually receive the award or get a chance to say any of that.”

While not an official title, “The Phoenician Scheme” is said to be a spy/espionage and family drama that stars Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, and Bill Murray.

Continue reading Wes Anderson Missed The Oscars To Shoot New Spy Movie, While ‘Henry Sugar’ Shorts Turn Into Netflix Anthology [Trailer] at The Playlist.