News

Michael Cera is revealing his tense first meeting with Tom Cruise!

While appearing on the Monday (June 23) episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, the 37-year-old actor revealed that he was scolded by Tom, 62, the first time they met.

Keep reading to find out more…

On the podcast episode, Michael revealed that he and Tom were both attending the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. The two of them met for “a little moment” as he was able to film a skit where Tom was interacting with other guests as his Tropic Thunder character.

He revealed that before the two of them filmed their segment, Michael made the wrong kind of first impression on Tom.

“The first moment I had with him, I arrived, they were shooting, and I was talking to the writer… We were just kind of mumbling while they were shooting, but they could hear us. It was just like 40 feet away.

Tom Cruise takes his sets seriously — even when filming a segment meant strictly for laughs. Michael Cera — who can currently be seen in Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” — found this out the hard way when shooting a pre-taped sketch for the MTV Movie Awards in 2010. In it, Cruise reprised his “Tropic Thunder” character, Hollywood agent Len Grossman (whom Cruise has hinted at possibly spinning off into his own movie).

Per Entertainment Weekly, Cera recalled on the “Louis Theroux Podcast” his “little moment” with Cruise during the segment, one of a series of moments the “Mission: Impossible” actor had with other performers.

“Tom runs the set,” Cera said. “I was really there for like five minutes, but what I observed was, he was like the first Ad on the set… I mean, he was such a leader. The first moment I had with him, I arrived, they were shooting, and...

There might be no other actor with more of a reputation for awkwardness than Michael Cera. So it’s probably best not to put him in any situation that will enhance that. But that’s exactly what Tom Cruise of all people did.

While Michael Cera and Tom Cruise have never made a movie together (what would that even be about?!), the two did both appear at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, where Cruise made a cameo as Les Grossman and later helped close the show with Best Movie, and Cera co-presented Best Wtf Moment. It was here that Cera ran afoul of Cruise during a pre-taped video. As he recalled on Louis Theroux’s podcast (via EW), “The first moment I had with him, I arrived, they were shooting, and I was talking to the writer…We were just kind of mumbling while they were shooting, but they could hear us.

A few years ago, a voice note of Tom Cruise passionately yelling on the set of Mission: Impossible went viral, not because he lost his temper, but because it revealed just how seriously he takes filmmaking. It wasn’t anger for the sake of it, it was the voice of someone who lives and breathes cinema, down to every last detail.

That same intensity was on full display years earlier when Michael Cera had a brief run-in with Cruise, or rather, with Les Grossman from Tropic Thunder. What was meant to be a simple, fun shoot quickly turned unforgettable. Here is what went down!

Michael Cera’s wild first day with Tom Cruise!

There are strange days in Hollywood, and then there are the days when you find yourself getting publicly scolded by Tom Cruise, in a fat suit, in his first meeting with you. For Michael Cera, what was...

Although Michael Cera took on a major piece of IP in 2023’s Barbie, he previously turned down another massive Warner Bros. franchise.

The actor recently explained that while he turned down a role in the Harry Potter spin-off films Fantastic Beasts, he doesn’t think he has “a franchise resistance” when it comes to his onscreen career.

“I think I turned one down once. Yeah, I did. It was a Harry Potter one, Fantastic Beasts,” he recalled on The Louis Theroux Podcast. “I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because — well, I think it would be like probably six years commitment or something. But also, like we were talking about earlier, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it.

Cera added,...

Meeting Tom Cruise is a pinch me moment for many young actors, but meeting Tom Cruise while he’s in character as the foul-mouthed Hollywood agent Len Grossman from “Tropic Thunder” is a whole different beast. Michael Cera found out the funny way when he showed up to film a pre-taped segment for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards alongside Cruise as Grossman.

“Tom Cruise did one where he was playing his character from ‘Tropic Thunder,’ the movie mogul guy,” Cera said on the “Louis Theroux Podcast” (via Entertainment Weekly). “So they were shooting all day these little clips of him and that character interacting with various people coming in and out, and I came in and I did a little moment with him on that.”

“Tom runs the set,” he added. “I was really there for like five minutes, but what I observed was, he was like the first Ad on the set…...

Exclusive: Miguel Arteta, the Independent Spirit Award winner behind titles like Beatriz at Dinner and Chuck & Buck, has found his next project in Sleep Toward Heaven, a feature adaptation of the bestselling debut novel by Amanda Eyre Ward, which he’ll helm as writer-director.

Published in 2003, Sleep Toward Heaven tells the story of three disparate women, whose lives collide in the aftermath of a crime during a brutal Texas summer. The critically acclaimed novel launched Ward’s career as a New York Times bestseller, which has seen her novels land on Reese’s Book Club and be optioned by wiip, Fox Searchlight and Sandra Bullock.

Said Arteta, “Amanda’s novel feels as resonant and necessary as it did when it was first published – maybe even more so, as we long to find humanity and connection in a fractured world. I wanted to adapt the novel myself because I fell in...

The iconic luxury brand has once again joined forces with filmmaker Wes Anderson to inspire a new generation of writers.

Montblanc and acclaimed director Wes Anderson have collaborated on a unique campaign that celebrates imagination, the art of writing, and modern luxury. Titled “Let’s Write”, the campaign merges Anderson’s signature visual style with Montblanc’s heritage of craftsmanship to pay tribute to the power of words.

Courtesy of Montblanc

Set in a mountaintop library, the short film follows three eccentric alpinists—played by Wes Anderson, Michael Cera, and Rupert Friend—on a whimsical journey exploring the mysteries of writing, introspection, and imaginative travel.

Throughout the narrative, viewers are transported from Venetian canals to Egyptian pyramids aboard a theatrical train named Voyage of Panorama, where each scene evokes both adventure and quiet reflection.

Rather than conventional product placement, Montblanc’s creations are seamlessly woven into Anderson’s cinematic world.

The Harry Potterfranchise is a ticket to stardom for many actors, but one acclaimed performer decided not to join the Wizard World. Adapting the books by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter film franchise began with Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone in 2001. Across eight films, a generation of youngsters would grow up alongside the students of Hogwarts.

The movies would prove to be an instant box office success, and would even spawn a host of copycats throughout the Aughts. When the original series eventually ended in 2011, there was a Harry Potter-shaped hole left in the world of fantasy, but it was quickly filled by the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2016.

Nearly 10 years after the release of the first Fantastic Beasts movie, Michael Cera appeared on The Louis Theroux Podcastand explained why he turned down a chance to appear. "I don’t think I have a franchise resistance,...

Michael Cera is opening up about why he tried to limit his fame earlier in his career, and how it actually led him to turn down a role in a major franchise.

The actor made a recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, where the host asked him if he has purposefully “resisted franchises” when taking on projects.

“I don’t think I have a franchise resistance. I think I know what you’re referring to,” Cera responded. “I think I turned one down once. Yeah, I did. It was a Harry Potter one, Fantastic Beasts. I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because — well, I think it would be like probably a six-year commitment or something. But also, like we were talking about earlier, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit,...

Michael Cera is currently starring in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, but the Superbad star is opening up about a part that could have been, but he didn’t particularly want. Per Variety, Cera, appearing onThe Louis Theroux Podcast, said he had the opportunity to appear in the Harry Potterspinoff franchise Fantastic Beasts. But, he ended up saying no to the part because of “fear” of potentially getting “too famous.”

Cera said he was in talks to be a part of the Fantastic Beasts movies based on the book by controversial Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling. The films, which included Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), starred Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander.

Cera Explains His Reasoning

“I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it...

Michael Cera let his fear of fame dictate his rule against franchises. The “Phoenician Scheme” actor has long voiced his aversion to celebrity, but the star is now revealing that he turned down a role in “Harry Potter” prequel franchise “Fantastic Beasts” because of it.

“I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because I think it would be probably a six-year commitment or something. But also, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it,” Cera said during the “Louis Theroux Podcast”. “And I felt like doing, especially little kids’ movies, I had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous.”

“Fantastic Beasts” stars Eddie Redmayne as an expert on magical creatures. Jude Law plays a young...

Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston | Written by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola | Directed by Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson made his directorial debut in 1996 with Bottle Rocket. Now, almost 30 years later, he’s released his 12th feature film. Anderson emerged from the 1990s wave of remarkable American directors, most famously Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson. In the time Wes Anderson has been making movies, he’s been more prolific than his two contemporaries. PTA has released nine feature films in the same period, and Tarantino nine over a slightly longer stretch (his debut arriving in 1992). The result of working so consistently has been a brilliant filmography over the last three decades, in which the unique director has still never let his genius slip.

For the three decades Anderson has been making movies, there have always been...

The Harry Potterfranchise is being rebooted by HBO for television, but the iconic property previously lived on thanks to the Fantastic Beasts film series. Despite featuring Eddie Redmayne, fresh off his Best Actor Oscar win, Fantastic Beasts failed to get off the ground after the three movies got increasingly poor reviews. However, an alternate reality would have seen The Phoenician Scheme star Michael Cera featured in the Harry Potter offshoot as a lead.

During an interview with Louis Theroux, Michael Cera revealed that he declined to engage in talks to star in the Harry Potter spin-off franchise Fantastic Beasts. He does not reveal what role he was up for, but it is possible that it was one of the main characters. Cera claims it was around a six-year commitment, so it could have been for Newt Scamander (Redmayne) himself. Other possibilities include Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller...

Michael Cera is explaining why he turned down considering a role in the Harry Potter universe spinoff film Fantastic Beasts.

“I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because I think it would be like probably six years commitment or something. But also, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it,” Michael said on Louis Theroux‘s podcast. “And I felt like doing, especially little kids’ movies, I had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous.”

Keep reading to find out more…

He added, “I think I’ve outgrown that particular feeling, but I think that’s what that was at that time. But if a franchise came along now and seemed interesting, I don’t...

Michael Cera could have been part of the Wizarding World.

In a new interview with Louis Theroux on his eponymous podcast, the “Superbad” and “Scott Pilgrim” star said he was once in talks to be part of the “Harry Potter” spinoff franchise “Fantastic Beasts,” but turned it down out of “fear” of getting “too famous.”

“I don’t even know if I was offered, I think I just declined to engage with it because I think it would be like probably six years commitment or something. But also, I did sort of make a conscientious choice to limit my exposure a little bit, or just try and be a little more in control of it,” Cera said. “And I felt like doing, especially little kids’ movies, I had a big fear of doing things that I would get too famous.”

A prequel to the “Harry Potter” films, “Fantastic Beasts” and...

Movie-goers who went to see 28 Years Later over this past weekend were introduced to an “alpha” infected / zombie character called Samson, who was played by 6-foot-8-inch actor and former Mma fighter Chi Lewis-Parry – and were also treated to the sight of Samson tearing off a human head with the spine still attached. During an interview with Variety, Lewis-Parry revealed that he has a role in the upcoming remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man, and that one of his career goals is to join another franchise that got started with a Schwarzenegger movie, as he wants to play a Predator.

The Running Man is based on a novel that was written by Stephen King under his Richard Bachman pen name. King’s novel has the following description: It was the ultimate death game in a nightmare future America. The year is 2025 and reality TV has grown to...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

To be a part of director Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" is to be a part of cinema history. Based on the Mattel doll of the same name, Gerwig's movie managed to bring the toy to the big screen in 2023, turning her into an absolute pop culture sensation, with the help of Margot Robbie in the title role. It ultimately went on to become the biggest box office hit of 2023 overall, taking in a shocking $1.44 billion worldwide and landing numerous Oscar nods (including one for Best Picture).

Aside from Robbie, the film is filled to the brim with incredible actors, including Ryan Gosling as Ken and an army of remarkable actors playing various versions of Barbie, like Kate McKinnon as "Weird Barbie." The movie also features quite a few actors playing alternate versions of Ken, with Michael Cera helping to round out the ensemble as Allan.

With Wes Anderson’s newest film The Phoenician Scheme now in theaters, he’s now reteamed with Montblanc for a new short film following last year’s collaboration, which was shot by Linus Sandgren. This time shot by Darius Khondji, who worked with Anderson on the 2013 Prada short Castello Cavalcanti, it features Anderson directing himself alongside Rupert Friend, Michael Cera, Waris Ahluwalia, and Esther McGregor.

Here’s the official description of the short, co-directed by Roman Coppola: “We are proud to present “Let’s Write,” the next chapter in our ongoing collaboration with visionary filmmaker Wes Anderson. The new campaign, with a short film by Wes Anderson, returns to the Montblanc Observatory High-Mountain Library in a literal, metaphorical, and poetic journey—one that celebrates writing, creativity, and Montblanc’s unique spirit of storytelling.”

Luke Hicks said in our Cannes review of The Phoenician Scheme, “Watching The Phoenician Scheme is...

Almost exactly a year after its theatrical release, Twisters, the sequel to 1996’s classic Twister, is gaining momentum on Amazon Prime Video’s Top 10. Per FlixPatrol, Twisters, starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, is in the No. 10 spot on Prime Video across all movies and shows on the streaming service as of June 21. The movie has a "Certified Fresh" critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

In Twisters, Edgar-Jones plays Kate Cooper, a storm chaser who is tracking an Oklahoma tornado outbreak with her friend Javi, played by Anthony Ramos. The pair soon meet up with social media storm chaser Tyler Owens (Powell), who clashes with the more traditional storm chasing duo. The film comes from director Lee Isaac Chung with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant)and a story by Joseph Kosinski.

Top 10 Overall on Prime Video Image via FlixPatrol Twisters Used Realistic Sets

Powell, who also starred in Top Gun: Maverick,...

(L to R) Michael Cera as Bjorn and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, a Focus Features release.

Credit: Courtesy of Tps Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved. With more and more movies being made on virtual sets, director Wes Anderson still likes to do things the old-fashioned way. His new movie, The Phoenician Scheme, is no different. One of the film’s stars, Michael Cera, said when he read the script, he didn’t know how they’d be able to shoot on practical sets, and he was amazed when he saw the sets they’d be filming on. (Click on the media bar below to hear Michael Cera.) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Michsel_Cera_The-Phoenician-Scheme_Practical_Sets_.mp3 The Phoenician Scheme is now playing in theaters.

The post Filming ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Had Michael Cera In Awe appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Four years have gone by since it was announced that Edgar Wright was coming on board to direct a new take on the novel The Running Man, which was written by Stephen King under his Richard Bachman pen name. The Running Man was, of course, previously turned into a film back in 1987 that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and had little to do with the source material. Last year, Wright’s take on the material began filming with Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick, Hit Man, and Twisters in the lead role. Production wrapped in the early months of this year, with the movie aiming for a November 7th theatrical release. While we wait to see how this new movie has turned out, Schwarzenegger has said in an interview that he’s hoping the remake will be better than the original.

King’s novel has the following description: It was the ultimate...

Edgar Wright and Glen Powell’s highly anticipated remake of The Running Man is officially slated for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025. Naturally, the new film will be compared to the 1987 cult favorite that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Although the original adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian novel has maintained a loyal fanbase over the years, Schwarzenegger recently acknowledged that the upcoming remake has a real chance to surpass his version by addressing its past limitations.

In a new interview with Cbr, Schwarzenegger discusses the upcoming remake, touching on some weak points in the original that he thinks Wright and Powell's film can improve upon.

Said Schwarzenegger, "Running Man’ was one of the movies that…I think it would have been great if we would have been better prepared for this movie if we would have had more money for this movie, and if we would have had then… the visual effects,...

Michael Cera as Barry, Edward Norton as Sammy Bagel Jr., Seth Rogen as Frank, and Jillian Bell as Trish in ‘Sausage Party: Foodtopia’ season 2 (Courtesy of Prime Video)

Prime Video’s Sausage Party: Foodtopia will return with more adventures of wild weiners and condiments on August 13, 2025. The outrageous animated series is set in a world in which food has become sentient, and the first photos tease the walking, talking munchies will be dealing with more bizarre problems in season two.

Seth Rogen returns to voice Frank, Will Forte voices Jack, Edward Norton voices Sammy Bagel Jr, and Michael Cera returns as Barry. Oscar winner Marion Cotillard joins the cast as Dijon, a badass warrior-mustard princess who pilots the most effective humey in New Foodland. Jillian Bell plays Trish, an empathic nut that puts the well-being of New Foodland above all else. Martin Starr joins as Sherman, Trish’s right-hand man...

Hungry for more? Today, Prime Video announced that Sausage Party: Foodtopia is back on the menu, returning for your viewing consumption on August 13, 2025.

All eight episodes of the animated comedy’s second season will be served all at once in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

In season two, exiled from home, Frank, Barry, and Sammy soon find themselves in New Foodland, a shining utopia for food and humans alike. But beneath the city’s glossy fridges and cheery smiles lies a dark secret that threatens the entirety of sentient food society.

Returning cast members include Seth Rogen (The Studio), Will Forte (The Four Seasons), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), and Michael Cera (The Phoenician Scheme).

The tasty new additions include Academy Award-winner Marion Cotillard as “Dijon”, a badass warrior-mustard princess who pilots the most effective humey in New Foodland, Jillian Bell as “Trish”, an empathic nut that puts the...

The zany world of Seth Rogen's food-focused animated comedy is back with Sausage Party: Foodtopiaseason 2, and ScreenRant has first-look images for the new episodes. The Prime Video series, co-created by Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir, serves as a sequel to their 2016 film of the same name, with Frank and the rest of the anthropomorphic foods trying to build a new society after defeating humans. Though having garnered mixed reviews, Sausage Party: Foodtopia enjoyed enough viewership success to net an early season 2 renewal.

With just shy of two months left to go until its return, ScreenRant is proud to exclusively present first-look images from Sausage Party: Foodtopia season 2. The stills, which can be seen in the gallery below, reveal the introduction of a new human survivor, Patti Harrison's Jill, as well as new food character Dijon (Marion Cotillard), described as "a bada-- warrior-mustard princess who pilots...

Just as some of the most effective live-action television series of all time are miniseries, telling a complete story in a single season, so too are several animated series. Whether it's a limited run anime series or a standalone season from a larger anthology series, there is something about the concise storytelling of a miniseries. From established franchises and adaptations to original stories, there are plenty of animated miniseries worth checking out. Given their set length, these shows are all the easier to binge over a lazy weekend.

In the streaming era for the television industry, animated miniseries are becoming increasingly prominent, both for family-friendly cartoons and more mature subject matter. This growing number of animated limited series has also fueled a noticeable improvement in many of these productions' quality, both visually and with the depth of storytelling. Of course, there are numerous miniseries that have stood the test of time,...

One of the most anticipated movies coming out this fall comes from contemporary English auteur Edgar Wright. Known for his kinetic style and genre-bending flair, Wright recently wrapped filming on The Running Man, an adaptation of a Stephen King book of the same name released under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

The film stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate father who enters a deadly reality competition in a bid to provide for his family. However, Wright isn’t the first to take a crack at this story. The novel was first brought to the big screen in 1987, with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead and Paul Michael Glaser directing. Now, with buzz heating up around the upcoming remake, the original is sprinting back into the spotlight and will soon land on a free streaming platform. Tubi, the ad-supported streaming platform known for its growing library of classics and cult favorites,...

We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to make you think about how silly it would be to read this without watching the entire season of "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" because there are heavy spoilers ahead and stuff!

There are too many live-action remakes of animated projects. More often than not, these remakes merely take away the uniqueness, the endless imagination and possibilities, and the exquisite visual styles of their source material and reduce them to bland, visually uninteresting live-action movies without personality. Even the best ones struggle to reach the heights of their animated counterparts.

Sure, their continued existence makes sense commercially, but creatively every studio in Hollywood is going about things all wrong here. Why turn great animated movies into dull live-action slop when you could just turn an already fantastic live-action project into an even better animated one? "The Animatrix" fulfilled the promise of the world...

The countdown has begun for the arrival of Edgar Wright's take on Stephen King's dystopian novel,The Running Man. The upcoming remake sees rising star Glen Powellreceive the baton from action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, as the lead, Ben Richards. Schwarzenegger originated the character in the first adaptation, directed by Paul Michael Glaser and released in 1987. While Schwarzenegger won’t be appearing or involved behind the scenes this time around, the veteran action hero has given the project his blessing. The actor has now spoken publicly about how he thinks the remake can surpass the original.

Schwarzenegger's version wasn’t exactly a critical darling upon release. Reviews ranged from mixed to average at best, landing the film a modest 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics divided over its tone and execution. While Schwarzenegger is proud of what the movie achieved, he has acknowledged that it had its flaws. In...

In November, Edgar Wright's new take on The Running Man will be premiering in theaters, presenting a new reimagining of the Stephen King story. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who famously starred in the first feature film released in 1987, feels optimistic that Wright's version will be able to improve upon what the original movie was lacking.

Schwarzenegger recently spoke with Grae Drake for Cbr Presents: Draw! to promote the second season of Fubar on Netflix, which premieres on June 12. The subject of The Running Man came up during the conversation, and Schwarzenegger shared his thoughts on the new movie coming out this year. While he says he doesn't know much in terms of Wright's creative direction, he believes the remake has an edge over the original thanks to modern visual effects. The actor noted that this was where the classic Running Man movie could have been "better."

"I mean, I love...

Composer Alexandre Desplat plays “Happy Birthday to You” on his keyboard — but with a twist: the final note on “you” is higher than in the traditional melody.

It’s Igor Stravinsky’s “Greeting Prelude,” a serial variation of the familiar tune composed in 1955 for the 80th birthday of French conductor Pierre Monteux. This inventive transformation by the Russian composer inspired Desplat to, as he puts it, “bend” a piece from Stravinsky’s ballet “The Firebird” for the score of Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme,” now playing in theaters.

“The seed of the score comes from a piece by Stravinsky, and there’s this little, short melody that I’ve used, and twisted and expanded,” Desplat tells Variety over Zoom. “When I started playing with that, I thought about what Stravinsky had done, and tried to stay in Stravinsky’s world.”

Desplat taps out a brief melody on his keyboard...

Michael Cera got the "biggest surprise" when he realised how much screen time he had in The Phoenician Scheme.The 36-year-old actor stars as Norwegian entomologist Bjorn in Wes Anderson's new film that centres on industrialist Zsa Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro), who, after surviving one another assassination attempts, names his daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) as his sole heir rather than his eight sons, and Michael admitted that it was a unexpected "thrill" to get to be in it for the whole thing. He told Entertainment Weekly: "The biggest surprise — when Wes sent me the script — I didn't expect to be along for the whole ride."And that was thrilling to get to watch Wes basically make this whole movie."The Barbie star also relished in getting the chance to work with the famed director as well as his co-stars.He added: "To collaborate with people like Wes...

Hollywood Insider - What Happened After ‘Twilight’: Where the Saga’s Stars Are Today

With Robert Pattinson leading Bong Joon Ho’s ‘Mickey 17’ and Kristen Stewart making her feature directorial debut with ‘The Chronology of Water’, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, the 'Twilight' cast have evolved far beyond the roles that made them famous. When ‘Twilight’ got its reboot on Netflix this spring, it brought us all back to the city of Forks. For a generation raised on Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, this was more than a rewatch—it was a rediscovery. But it's been 13 years since the release of ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2’ back in 2012. So what’s the cast up to now? Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more...

Lemonade Blessing” (2025) revolves around the geeky teenager archetype we have seen plenty of times in American cinema. Think of Jason Schwartzman’s character from “Rushmore,” who falls in love with his teacher and naively believes that she is his soulmate. He is ready to go to any lengths, even if it means standing up against her partner. Anderson has made a career out of following similarly awkward and oftentimes socially reserved young characters who learn to grow out of their insecurities for love. Michael Cera and Jesse Eisenberg have played different shades of this exact character, whose social awkwardness often defines them.

Coincidentally, the star of “Lemonade Blessing,” Jake Ryan, comes from the Wes Anderson school of acting. After being in Anderson’s “Asteroid City” and “Moonrise Kingdom,” Ryan returns in a similarly zany comedy-drama as John Santucci, a socially inept teenager in constant crisis mode. He is a child of divorce,...

Director Wes Anderson has developed quite a sterling reputation for delivering movies that are unmistakably his, and also commercially bankable. But his post-pandemic run has been slightly underwhelming, especially when compared to the high benchmark that he set for himself with The Grand Budapest Hotel a decade or so ago. That movie concluded its run with over $170 million worldwide and is largely considered to be Anderson’s only crossover hit. His other films, including his latest, The Phoenician Scheme, have generally catered to his devoted fan base.

The movie expanded into wide release this weekend, following a record debut seven days ago in just six theaters. The Phoenician Scheme has grossed around $7 million domestically, and another $11 million from overseas markets, for a cumulative global haul of $18 million in around 10 days of release. Produced on a reported budget of $30 million, the movie is already set to overtake the $19 million lifetime global haul of Anderson’s Rushmore,...

On Sunday June 8 2025, CBS broadcasts Made in Hollywood!

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina; The Phoenician Scheme; Dangerous Animals Season 20 Episode 35 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Made in Hollywood” titled “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina; The Phoenician Scheme; Dangerous Animals” promises an exciting lineup. This episode features a star-studded cast, including Ana de Armas, Benicio del Toro, Dan Stevens, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Jai Courtney, and Kevin Smith. Each actor brings their unique talent to the screen, making this episode a must-watch.

Ana de Armas takes center stage in the segment about “Ballerina,” diving into the world of action and intrigue that fans of the John Wick franchise have come to love. Her performance is expected to be captivating, showcasing her skills in both acting and action. The episode will likely explore the character’s journey and the challenges she faces in this dangerous world.

The...

It would seem like director Wes Anderson’s charm might be wearing off, going by the mediocre response that his latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, has been greeted with. Despite his popularity in cinephile circles, Anderson has largely struggled to crossover into the mainstream. And he doesn’t really need to. He’s been making movies with controlled budgets, earning massive critical acclaim, and generating respectable profits as well. The Phoenician Scheme, however, has opened with a lower CinemaScore grade than his recent projects, which could be a concern.

The movie earned a B- grade from the folks that watched it on its first day of wide release. The Phoenician Scheme debuted in six locations last week, predictably delivering the year’s best limited debut. It’s expected to gross around $6 million this weekend, which would be enough for a spot in the top five. Produced on a reported budget of $30 million,...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Josh Westcott for Wbgr-fm on June 5th, 2025, reviewing the new film “The Phoenician Scheme,” a star-studded comedy by off-key master Wes Anderson. In theaters on June 6th.

The story deals with Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), a global entrepreneur who recruits his only daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) – a practical nun about to take her vows – to help execute a plan to corner the market through “The Phoenician Scheme,” a complex set of business deals that could pay off for 150 years. The scheme involves a series of partners who need to fill the funding gap, as it’s called, including Prince Farouk of Phoenicia (Riz Ahmed), brothers Leland and Reagan (Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston), Marsielle Bob (Mathieu Amaltric), shipping magnate Marty (Jeffrrey Wright), Cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson) and Uncle Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch). Zsa-Zsa has to mind all the gaps.

(L to R) Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda, Michael Cera as Bjorn and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Tps Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

For any new Wes Anderson film, some things are certain: the art direction is going to be gorgeous, scenes will have central framing, and every little detail will be carefully thought out. That distinctive visual style is one of the things fans love about Wes Anderson’s work and that distinct visual aesthetic is on full display in The Phoencian Scheme, which explores the vast moral emptiness of the lives of the ultra rich, through a tale of a sort-of Howard Hughes-ish/tech billionaire-type character in the same 1950s-ish world as Asteroid City. The dark comedy, written by Anderson from a story by him and Roman Coppola, is a...

We might think we know what we're going to get out of any given Wes Anderson production, more or less, but that doesn't mean we've seen everything the innovative director has to offer. "The Phoenician Scheme" marks the auteur's thirteenth total film (counting the collection of shorts that make up 2023's "The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar"), meaning we've had almost three full decades to try and put Anderson in a box. His latest, as /Film's Bill Bria reviewed for us here, almost seems preoccupied with putting that theory to the test -- largely through the motley crew of characters at its center.

"The Phoenician Scheme" follows wealthy industrialist Zsa-zsa Korda (played by Anderson regular Benicio del Toro) as he attempts to juggle several things at once: dodging one assassination attempt after another, concocting a desperate gambit to defeat his business rivals bent on his destruction, and reconnecting with his estranged daughter,...

Back in the days when flip phones were cool and Friday night DVDs were a thing, nothing hit quite like the Rush Hour movies. They weren’t just action comedies—they were a whole vibe. If someone wanted a dose of fast kicks and even faster comebacks, this was the holy grail. Jackie Chan brought his signature, heart-in-every-stunt style, while Chris Tucker showed up with that motor mouth and fun energy like he’d just had three espressos.

Together, they didn’t just make a great pair—they flipped the buddy-cop game on its head and made it fun in a way that still feels fresh. The first film didn’t sneak in quietly either—it pretty much kicked the doors open and rewrote the playbook of the whole genre.

Each installment took things up a notch (or tried to), hopping from LA to Hong Kong to Paris, and while...

Although Wes Anderson is no stranger to assembling a star-studded ensemble, one actress seems to be just out of reach.

The Oscar-winning director recently revealed that he’s unsuccessfully attempted to cast Jodie Foster in “so many” his films, but timing has never worked out in his favor. He wouldn’t disclose which movies or roles he envisioned for her.

“Over the years, I had so many movies that I tried to get Jodie Foster to be in,” he told Collider, adding: “It used to be every movie, we went to Jodie Foster for a part. And I think I did it three movies in a row, maybe four. And I met her, and I liked her. And I thought it was going to get her. And I think she’s just great, Jodie Foster. And I loved her.”

Anderson noted he “still would like to get Jodie Foster. But...

Though some may view The Phoenician Scheme as yet another narrative maze from filmmaker Wes Anderson, most will likely appreciate and cherish the humor and decidedly off-beat storytelling that the film presents as it careens towards staking its claim as one of the best films of the year.

When he suspects a plot against him, one of the richest men in Europe, Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), decides to make his only daughter – Liesl (Mia Threapleton) – the heir to his estate. Then, as Liesl (who also happens to be a nun) and Korda begin traveling to shepherd a new business deal, they become the target of assassins and terrorists, as well as fellow less-than-savory businessmen.

What follows is a tale of corporate espionage and violence that only a filmmaker like Wes Anderson can spin. Working from a script penned by himself and Roman Coppola, Anderson crafts his usual tapestry of...

Last week, Focus Features extended the incredibly kind invite to cover the latest from Wes Anderson, The Phoenician Scheme. And frankly, as someone who adored this wonderfully weird flick, I couldn’t wait. In the new feature, Benicio Del Toro plays the ruthless businessman Zsa-Zsa Korda. In hopes to keep his name and himself alive – for this guy, it’s a struggle – he decides to appoint his estranged daughter, a nun brilliantly played by Mia Threaplton. If you love Wes Anderson films, you’re going to be delighted by the dark humor and its wildly engaging satire. The feature also stars Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hanks, and Bryan Cranston in brief but memorable roles.

It was a quick trip to New York, and the brief change of scenery was a treat. Once I arrived, I checked out the sites, and I wandered around Central Park and Columbus Circle.

An Austrian newspaper ran an interview with the cinema legend which he denied ever giving. What actually happens in the world of movie reporting can be yet more murky

It is no surprise that Austrian newspaper Kurier’s Clint Eastwood interview went viral over the weekend. An audience with a 95-year-old film legend containing stern words about the current state of cinema was always going to go like a rocket. Particularly during the industry’s dregs season: the thin period post Cannes and pre the summer proper, with Mission: Impossible fever fading fast and Lilo & Stitch ruling the box office – a success from which only so many stories can be spun.

Further evidence of this thinness comes from a quick scan of the news stories run over the past week in some of the trade magazines – Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Screen International – who must keep producing them, regardless of actual material.

You think you know Jackie Chan‘s story, right? The martial arts legend who brought kung fu comedy to Hollywood, the guy who does his own stunts and makes us laugh while kicking butt. But here’s the thing – behind all those action-packed movies lies a family history so wild it makes his films look tame.

We’re talking espionage, wartime secrets, and family drama that stayed buried for decades. Jackie didn’t even learn the truth about his father’s double life until he was in his forties, and when he did, it completely flipped everything he thought he knew about his family upside down.

From martial arts prodigy to General Gu’s orderly Jackie Chan in Karate Kid (2010) | Credits: Columbia Pictures, Edko Films

So picture this: Charles Chan returns to Nanjing at 20 years old, and his dad is still telling him he needs to get his act together.

They say "never meet your heroes," and it sounds like Michael Cera can vouch for that. The actor, who has been doing the rounds on a press tour for Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, recently crossed paths with the legendary Jackie Chan, promoting his latest film Karate Kid: Legends, but it didn't exactly go how Cera might have planned. He recalled the hilariously awkward encounter while speaking to NME, as he admitted that Chan had no idea who he was and probably thought he was a "competition winner," wanting to meet him.

"[A photographer] asked if I knew Jackie Chan, which I don't, so she said, 'Come meet him,'" Cera said, setting the scene, which unfolded at the studios of BBC Radio 2 where both actors happened to have a simultaneous press stop. "When I met him though, he was like 'who is this person, what's going on?' We took a picture,...

Jackie Chan is one of the biggest action stars of all time and probably, there is hardly any cinemagoer who hasn’t seen his work. From jumping off buildings to chasing cars and more, Chan is one of the top entertainers in the world.

Following the release of his latest, Karate Kid: Legends, the global action icon gave a heartfelt bombshell interview to People. While he talked a lot about his life and career, the actor revealed why his late mother never watched any of his movies and the emotional reason behind it is deeply moving.

Jackie Chan on why his Mother has never seen his movies Jackie Chan in 1985’s Police Story | Credits: Golden Way Films Ltd

Jackie Chan has starred in hundreds of movies in his career, from Hollywood to the Chinese film industry. His films have been widely translated into different languages and watched across the world,...

Wes Anderson is, without a doubt, one of the most distinctive, unmistakable auteurs of contemporary cinema. From the meticulous symmetry of his framing to the carefully curated color palettes and the almost melancholic tone of his ironic humor, everything about his style screams his name. Films like Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) established a visual and narrative language that has inspired (and oversaturated) many imitators – yet none have managed to replicate it with the same precision. Even though his more recent work – like Asteroid City (2023) and The French Dispatch (2021) – left me somewhat indifferent, my curiosity to see each new project remains intact. The Phoenician Scheme doesn’t change the writer-director’s style in the slightest, but it strikes a more accessible balance between his elaborate aesthetics and a straightforward narrative.

Written and directed by Anderson himself, The Phoenician Scheme tells the story of Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro...