Wes says “Not so fast!” on GRAND BUDAPEST cast

Here at the offices of John Bierly Dot Com, where responsibility is king, accountability is queen, and integrity is Batman, we don’t just bury corrections at the bottoms of the original stories or in the middle of a crossword puzzle on page 47.

Instead, we write a whole new article to clear things up.

And by “we,” I mean my imaginary staff of dreamy lady reporters and me. Why, here are Amy and Halle at the Christmas party last year, and here are Elizabeth and Amy reminiscing about that hilarious joke I told at the Catalina Wine Mixer in June.

Anyway, my previous article mentioned that Johnny Depp had joined the cast of Wes Anderson’s next film, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.

Wes Anderson, however, told The Huffington Post that Depp won’t be in the film after all:

HP: Your next movie is THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, which is reported to star Johnny Depp?

WA: It’s not Johnny Depp.

HP: Oh, it’s not?

WA: No. There’s a lot of … You know, the Internet has a way of announcing things on its own [laughs]. You will find that even though I’m very aware of the cast that has been announced on its own devices, you’ll never find me saying who’s in the movie. Or, as far as I know, anybody else. I really don’t know where it all comes from. In fact, Johnny is somebody who I would love to work with at some point, but he’s not going to be in this movie. But I actually have not put the cast out — I have not announced the cast. We have quite a great cast.

HP: Well, Bill Murray is in it. He’s been telling people during his HYDE PARK ON HUDSON press tour that he’s in it. Unless he’s lying?

WA: [Laughs] That’s true. That’s true. Bill is in it. Bill is in it.

And there you go. Sincerest apologies to Mr. Anderson and all involved for my participation in the Internet Wrong Machine, and rest assured the proper cast will be reported right here as soon as it’s official.

Actors check in to THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Fresh off the success of MOONRISE KINGDOM, Wes Anderson is busy prepping his next. And, as he tends to do, he’s assembling quite a cast.

Bill Murray just told Vulture he’s in …

“I’m about to go shoot a movie with Wes Anderson in Germany,” Murray said. “If you see me in Germany, I’ll be working on a movie.”

… and added …

“That’ll be nice,” he said about Anderson’s THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. “I haven’t been to Germany in a long time.” He particularly liked shooting Anderson’s MOONRISE KINGDOM. “Those kids were a hoot. Those children” — he adopts a Mary Poppins voice — “They loved me” — now back to normal — “They were really nice kids, and, uh, to be a kid on one of those movies, how great is that? They had the time of their lives.” He shook his head. “They think it’s all going to be like that, every movie’s going to be like that.”

Also acknowledging participation is a newcomer to Anderson’s world who needs no introduction — Angela Lansbury! She says …

“I’m playing a woman of mystery. It’s a minuscule role. I’m on the screen probably for less than five minutes.”

Owen Wilson, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp are already confirmed, with Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Adrien Brody, and Willem Dafoe all reportedly approached for roles. (Correction here! Johnny Depp is definitely not in it, and the rest of the cast will be announced when it’s all official.)

So what’s it all about? Here’s what Anderson told Russ Fischer from /Film about how it compares to FANTASTIC MR. FOX and MOONRISE KINGDOM:

I think the next movie I’m doing … I have a script that I’ve just finished and that one I would say does not really follow that vein. I don’t think it’s … I would say it’s not very family friendly. (Laughs)

Whatever it is, I’m in. Filming begins in January!

And while we’re wishing happy birthdays …

… let’s not forget the wonderful Mark Hamill, who’s celebrating his 61st today! Luke Skywalker and Superman share the same birthday? That’s as much a cause for celebration as anything I can think of, especially for a kid like me who was born at just the right time to grow up with these guys among my heroes.