By BlogHear News Staff | May 21, 2025
CANNES, FRANCE – In a film packed with Hollywood stars and Wes Anderson’s trademark visual flair, it’s a rising newcomer—24-year-old Mia Threapleton—who is stealing the spotlight in The Phoenician Scheme, which had its world premiere this week at the Cannes Film Festival.
Threapleton, daughter of acclaimed British actor Kate Winslet, plays the film’s formidable lead: Liesl, a sharp-tongued, pipe-smoking noviciate nun. Despite the eccentric premise, critics are praising Threapleton’s performance as “sensational,” with many calling it the standout of the film.
The role marks Threapleton’s first major appearance in a feature film, though she has previously acted in TV series such as The Buccaneers and Dangerous Liaisons. Speaking to the BBC, she described the experience of working with Wes Anderson and her co-stars as “the best summer camp ever.”
A Central Father-Daughter Story
Originally conceived as a dark satire about global power and industrial greed, The Phoenician Scheme evolved during production into a story focused on the complicated bond between Liesl and her father Zsa Zsa Korda—played by Oscar-winner Benicio del Toro. Anderson, along with co-writer Roman Coppola, reportedly restructured the film around the chemistry between Threapleton and del Toro.
“When we auditioned her, there was this moment—she didn’t blink,” del Toro recalled. “I remember telling Wes, ‘She might be short, but she’s terrific.’”
Anderson echoed the sentiment, calling her performance “electric.” Despite the physical contrast between del Toro and Threapleton, the director said she exuded “presence and solidity,” bringing emotional weight to their scenes.
Cera, Cumberbatch, and a Biblical Twist
The film also features Michael Cera as a bug-obsessed Norwegian tutor in love with Liesl, marking his long-awaited debut in Anderson’s filmography. Benedict Cumberbatch appears as a sinister uncle in heavy eyeliner—adding another layer of dark whimsy to the film’s ensemble cast.
One of the film’s more unusual elements is a black-and-white subplot in which Korda faces judgment in heaven, presided over by none other than Bill Murray as God.
According to Anderson, the film was partly inspired by his relationship with his own daughter, as well as observing the dynamic between his wife and her late father, Lebanese construction magnate Fouad Mikhael Malouf. “I think if I didn’t have a nine-year-old daughter, this character Korda probably wouldn’t have a daughter,” he said.
Mixed Reviews, But Enthusiastic Cast
While Threapleton’s breakout role is drawing praise, early reviews for The Phoenician Scheme have been mixed. Some critics have described the film as a patchwork of “skits and static tableaux,” typical of Anderson’s style. Others hailed it as a timely commentary on wealth, power, and corporate excess, cloaked in Anderson’s signature deadpan humor.
Despite differing opinions, one thing remains consistent: Anderson’s ability to foster a passionate, loyal cast and crew. Filmed at Babelsberg Studios in Germany, the production brought the team together in a collaborative, immersive environment—something Anderson likens to a “traveling acting troupe.”
Jeffrey Wright, returning for his third Anderson film, described the creative atmosphere as “miraculous,” while British actor Rupert Friend said the director’s optimism is “extraordinarily refreshing.”
Threapleton summed up her experience simply: “I don’t even know if the word ‘unique’ does it enough justice… Everyone is there because they care and love what they do.”
Release Dates:
The Phoenician Scheme opens in UK cinemas on May 23, and in the US on May 30.
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