Love him or hate him, you can’t deny director Wes Anderson’s ability to cast the hell out of his films. Personally, Anderson is one of my all-time favorite filmmakers and one of the few I will never miss in theaters. If he makes it, I’m there. His next project, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, is a European-set film that, according to Anderson, will take place “85 years ago.” So, set somewhere around 1927, the pic has now picked up Saoirse Ronan as the female lead. The rising star who has shown so much promise in films like HANNA and ATONEMENT, is an awesome addition to Anderson’s stock, which will likely give the actress some room to expand her reportoirre.
Ronan joins the already cast Owen Wilson, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, and Ralph Fiennes, along with potential castmates (but not yet confirmed) from Anderson’s usual roster. Earlier this year it was announced that Johnny Depp would be joining the film, but that proved to be false. The author of murder herself, Angela Lansbury, was also up for a role, but had to drop out. To me, it’s all good, as I have no doubt that Anderson can fill any slot with an actor/actress of equal skill when one falls off the wagon.
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is set for release on December 26, 2014, which feels ridiculously far away. Saoirse Ronan will next be seen in the adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST, set for release on March 29, 2013.