Wes Anderson has brought his troupe of actors back together for his latest film, The French Dispatch. This time, some young actors have been added to the group, including Alex Lawther and Timothée Chalamet, the latter of whom turned heads with his Cannes Film Festival attire.
Anderson has also brought in some star power into the new movie, with big names like Elisabeth Moss and three-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand among new collaborators.
Of course, some familiar faces have also returned to the Anderson movie fold, with Loki star Owen Wilson, Doctor Strange's Tilda Swinton and veteran actor Bill Murray among them.
So far, the film has received critical acclaim since its debut at Cannes on Monday, ahead of its worldwide release later this year.
Here is everything there is to know about the new movie from the auteur.
When Is 'The French Dispatch' Out in Movie Theaters?
The French Dispatch comes out around the world on October 22, 2021.
The film was rescheduled from its original release date in July 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and also had its premiere delayed by a year as well.
The French Dispatch was originally meant to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2020, which was canceled because of COVID-19.
The film's festival premiere was moved to July 12, 2021, still at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Cast of 'The French Dispatch'
Anderson is known for collaborating with a troupe of actors, all well-known in their own right but happy to connect with the director regularly.
The French Dispatch is no different, and many of the actors we know and love from Anderson movies are returning to the fold.
There will also be some new faces among the stars, including Timothée Chalamet.
Anderson has also collaborated with familiar faces in writing the story, with actor Jason Schwartzman and screenwriter Roman Coppola contributing while Anderson wrote the screenplay himself.
Here is a list of many of the film's ensemble cast, who play named characters in The French Dispatch:
- Adrien Brody
- Alex Lawther
- Anjelica Huston
- Benicio del Toro
- Bill Murray
- Bob Balaban
- Cécile de France
- Christoph Waltz
- Edward Norton
- Elisabeth Moss
- Fisher Stevens
- Frances McDormand
- Guillaume Gallienne
- Henry Winkler
- Hippolyte Girardot
- Jason Schwartzman
- Jeffrey Wright
- Léa Seydoux
- Liev Schreiber
- Lois Smith
- Lyna Khoudri
- Mathieu Amalric
- Owen Wilson
- Rupert Friend
- Saoirse Ronan
- Stephen Park
- Tilda Swinton
- Timothée Chalamet
- Tony Revolori
- Willem Dafoe
The Plot of 'The French Dispatch'
The official synopsis of the movie reads: "The French Dispatch brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th-century French city."
Speaking to Charente Libre, a French regional publication, Anderson said: "The story is not easy to explain.
"[It's about an] American journalist based in France [who] creates his magazine. It is more a portrait of this man, of this journalist who fights to write what he wants to write.
"It's not a movie about freedom of the press, but when you talk about reporters you also talk about what's going on in the real world."
The trailer shows different journalists finding their stories and presenting them to the editor, played by Bill Murray.
According to The New Yorker, the movie is based on this magazine, with the three main stories dramatized in the film also being loosely inspired by the magazine and its writers.
The French Dispatch is out in movie theaters on October 22
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
