Prolific duo
Still, ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’ by Wes Anderson, 2004
While Wes Anderson’s latest cinematic work, The French Dispatch, premiered at BFI’s London Film Festival this weekend, Bill Murray has already begun teasing hints regarding his next collaboration with the US auteur. The first talk of the project surfaced at Cannes Film Festival in July but it was this weekend in London that Murray confirmed the title of the director’s next project as Asteroid City, marking the tenth time the pair have worked together.
Still, ‘The French Dispatch’, directed by Wes Anderson, 2021
“It’s the usual cast of characters, we’re shooting it in Spain, about 45 minutes from Madrid. It’s fun out there, we’re having a nice time,” said Murray of the upcoming project, as reported by Screen Daily. The film, like many of Anderson’s previous works, is an ensemble piece which as always promises another star-studded cast. As a long-serving regular in Anderson’s movies, Murray will appear alongside a previously announced cast of seasoned collaborators in the form of Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody while some first-timers also joining the roster as Margot Robbie and Tom Hanks are set for their Anderson debut.
On his obviously stellar relationship with the director, Murray said, “There are certain people you don’t take their calls; and there are certain people you just say, ‘OK, yeah’. He’s one of those” (and for someone who famously has no agent, manager or phone number – that’s quite the statement). While a release date for the feature film has not yet been confirmed, The French Dispatch will be out in UK cinemas from 22nd October.