The Phoenician Scheme, a thriller-comedy, is slated for a June 20, 2025, theatrical release. Wes Anderson directed and co-wrote the script with Roman Coppola. The film, with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes, is presented by Indian Paintbrush and American Empirical Pictures. Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, and John Peet are the producers.
The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Movie Overviews
| Movie Name | The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Movie |
| Original Language | Englsh |
| Spoken Language | – |
| Release Date | 20 June 2025 |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 45 minutes |
| Country | Germany |
| Genres | Comedy Thriller |
| Writer | Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola |
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Producer | Wes Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, John Peet |
| Production Co. | Indian Paintbrush, American Empirical Pictures |
The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Movie Screenshots
The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Movie Star Cast
| Actor | Role / Notes |
| Benicio del Toro | Anatole “Zsa-zsa” Korda |
| Mia Threapleton | Sister Liesl |
| Michael Cera | Bjørn Lund |
| Tom Hanks | Leland |
| Bryan Cranston | Reagan |
| Mathieu Amalric | Marseille Bob |
| Richard Ayoade | Sergio |
| Jeffrey Wright | Marty |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | Uncle Nubar |
| Rupert Friend | Excalibur |
| Hope Davis | Mother Superior |
| F. Murray Abraham | Prophet |
| Charlotte Gainsbourg | Korda’s first wife |
| Willem Dafoe | Knave |
| Alex Jennings | Broadcloth |
| Jason Watkins | Notary |
| Scott Shepherd | Field Reporter |
| Karl Markovics | Hermit |
The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Movie Trailer
The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Movie Review
Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme arrives like a meticulously crafted gift box: visually exquisite, structurally inventive, and warm in tone. Yet, its contents feel more ornamental than profoundly moving. True to Anderson’s signature style, the film blends intricate visuals and quirky storytelling, dipping tentatively into deeper emotional waters but not always finding its footing.
Set in a fictional post-war Mediterranean nation wrestling with modernization, the story follows Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro), an aging industrialist pitching a grand utopian rail project. Beneath this ambition lies his true desire: to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), who has rejected his wealth and name to join a monastic order. Their strained bond, woven through letters, fleeting meetings, and philosophical exchanges, anchors the film emotionally, though it’s diluted by a sprawling cast and tangled subplots.
Mia Threapleton shines as the introspective Liesl, her quiet intensity grounding the film’s whimsical tendencies. Benicio Del Toro balances melancholy and wry humor, portraying a man chasing a future while haunted by his past. The supporting ensemble—Michael Cera as a quirky, bug-obsessed academic and Riz Ahmed as a skeptical bureaucrat—delivers sharp, comedic moments, though their roles feel fleeting.
Anderson’s visual flair remains unmatched. Every frame is a diorama of warm hues, miniature trains, and meticulously crafted sets, with long tracking shots gliding through perfectly composed scenes. Alexandre Desplat’s score weaves nostalgic melancholy into the whimsy, enhancing the film’s bittersweet air.
Yet, The Phoenician Scheme struggles to fully connect. Its layered, sometimes opaque narrative keeps viewers at a distance. While themes of legacy, estrangement, and progress flicker throughout, they remain underexplored. The film dazzles the eyes and sparks the mind but only occasionally tugs at the heart.
