Wes Anderson Confirms Michael Cera and Benicio del Toro Will Star in His Next Film

Wes Anderson has revealed who will be joining the cast of his next film.

The filmmaker shared that Michael Cera and Benicio del Toro will be starring in his next film, in an interview with Deadline published Monday. He also revealed that Cera is someone he's wanted to work with for many years but hasn't had the chance.

"[Cera] is one of the other characters in this new story. And he’s somebody I probably met, I think, close to 20 years ago," Anderson shared. "At least 18 years ago, something like that."

Additionally, Anderson announced some details about his next film, revealing that it was written before the WGA strike began with his long-time collaborator Roman Coppola. The Moonrise Kingdom filmmaker stated in a previous interview that the forthcoming project will be "about espionage, a father-daughter relationship, and, let’s say, with a rather dark tone."

"Well, before the Writers guild strike began, we had just finished a script. Roman Coppola and I had been working on a script. So, when the time is right again, we’ve got a movie to make with Benicio Del Toro," he told Deadline, refusing to give away any further plot details.

Anderson also went on to discuss the WGA strike, saying that he hopes guild leaders can help reach a deal soon.

"I have a slightly different point of view, because I’m old. I have some savings. But it feels like yesterday when I was experiencing the same vulnerability as many of the younger writers who [are striking]. I know that feeling — it’s so familiar — of anxiety and uncertainty," Anderson told Deadline. "Their lives are completely led up to wanting to do this job, and suddenly they’re not finding a way to function."

"But what can I say? I mean, I hope they figure this out soon because people are starting to enter into the direst straits, and they’re counting on being able to go forward. The leadership of these guilds have to find an answer," he said. "They’ve got to come together. Not that it depends on them, it’s just that, somehow, the deals have to get made."

Anderson also opened up about how he creates the visual style of his films, even saying that he doesn't "have an aesthetic."

"Even I can say, 'Well, yes, I can tell that’s the same person.' But it’s an invention, you know? What I was doing in Bottle Rocket was what I had. That was my aesthetic. And it changed in this one," he said. "And, every time, so much of the next movie is informed by something we did in the one before. Like, people often refer to me doing these kinds of dolly shots, and Asteroid City begins with a long one. We go from one place to the next, and we run around. It’s a certain kind of way to film a sequence that is not so typical for everybody. And I do it a lot."

The filmmaker also shared his thoughts on the TikTok trend that went viral several months ago, in which users would create videos in his style. Anderson said that he hadn't watched many of the videos, as he felt uncomfortable watching people try to imitate him.

"My experience of [the TikTok trend] is totally through people mentioning it to me. I’ve never watched them because I get too … I’m like … I don’t want … [Pauses] Not that it’s a criticism of somebody’s thing they’ve made, it’s like, do you really want to see somebody doing you? It’s like when somebody says, 'Oh, so-and-so can really do you.' You know what I mean? Do you really want to see their imitation of you? It’ll make you [self-conscious]."

The first of Anderson's series of short Roald Dahl adaptations, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, will premiere Sept. 27 on Netflix.