At CinemaCon, two celebrated directors, Wes Anderson and Yorgos Lanthimos, previewed their upcoming projects, offering a glimpse into their unique cinematic visions. Anderson presented the first look at his latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, while Lanthimos, alongside Emma Stone, introduced the eerie, bee-infused Bugonia.
Anderson’s new film, an espionage thriller, debuted its first-look trailer on last Wednesday during Universal’s presentation to theater owners. The film will be distributed by Focus Features, the studio’s indie arm, marking the third collaboration between Anderson and Focus after 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom and 2023’s Asteroid City.
The Phoenician Scheme stars Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of Europe’s wealthiest men, and Mia Threapleton as his daughter. Michael Cera plays her tutor in the film. The trailer, which has not yet been released to the public, shows Zsa-zsa Korda surviving his sixth plane crash, which prompts him to decide that his estate should be passed on to his daughter. Anderson’s signature stylized visuals are evident throughout the trailer, featuring a star-studded cast that includes Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others.
Meanwhile, Focus Features also offered a brief teaser for Bugonia, the latest collaboration between Lanthimos and Stone, following their previous films The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness. The film is a remake of the South Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planet and follows two conspiracy-obsessed friends who kidnap a powerful CEO (Stone), convinced she is an alien bent on destroying the Earth.
The teaser for Bugonia was accompanied by a chilling voiceover by Jesse Plemons, who plays a beekeeper and conspiracist. His ominous narration over shots of beehives sets the tone for the film, hinting at the existential crisis unfolding within the story. In a striking moment, Plemons is shown shaving off Stone’s hair, leading to a haunting close-up of her character, who appears disturbingly inhuman.
The Phoenician Scheme is set for limited release on May 30, with a wider release on June 6. Bugonia will hit theaters on November 7.
Although Anderson, Lanthimos, and Stone were not present at CinemaCon, Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski introduced the films, underscoring the studio’s dedication to the theatrical experience. “Our films, every single one of them, is made for the vital theatrical experience,” Kujawski told the gathering of cinema owners. “I really can’t stress that enough.”
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