A colorful cast features in Wes Anderson’s new movie ‘Asteroid City’ but what the heck is Tom Hanks doing in here?
Here’s a sneak peak at some stills from Wes Anderson’s forthcoming new movie Asteroid City.
The film takes place in a fictional American desert-town in or around 1955 when a bunch of stargazers and space cadets attend a geek convention that is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
As is usual with the metamodernist director’s movies, an astonishingly grand cast will feature, including Anderson veterans Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson (pictured above), Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber and Willem Dafoe.
Also among the colorful cast are Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hope Davis, Hong Chau and Jeff Goldblum (along with dozens more).
Liev Schreiber, Steve Carell, Steve Park and Hope Davis in Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’.
What I find rather odd is the inclusion of Tom Hanks in a major role, as well as Margot Robbie coming along for the ride.
Hanks is usually affiliated with big blockbusters whereas Wes’s movies are almost always indie cinema staples. He’s also had a crappy track record of late, with shoddy reviews for his role in Elvis and A Man Called Otto, and bizarre ‘cult’-like allegations on social media platforms such as Reddit and TikTok.
We’re guessing Hanks, in a desperate bid for credibility, begged to be a part of this brilliant ensemble, but it feels kind of creepy having seen him worm his way into this particular flick. Anderson may as well throw Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adam Sandler and Tom Cruise into the mix; then we’d pretty much have all of old-school Hollywood covered.
Also odd is the inclusion of Margot Robbie since she has featured in the past year’s biggest box office disappointment (critically, for sure) in Babylon, and will also feature in the over-the-top mess that will be Barbie (maybe Wes liked how Robbie looked in hyper-saturated hues?).
Writer/director Wes Anderson on the set of ‘Asteroid City’.
Still, a Wes Anderson film is always an awesome, awe-inspiring and excellent affair so even with these two in prominent roles, this flick ought to impress us.
Lisa Andrews & Antonino Tati
‘Asteroid City’ is in cinemas June 23, 2023. (Ain’t that a spooky date.)
Photography by Roger Do Minh/Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features.
CREAM MAGAZINE 
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