Asteroid City 2023: Release date, trailer, plot, cast, budget, OTT platform and more

A Wes Anderson film is like any known pleasure that you just cannot pass up, despite the familiarity or the repetition. His trademark aesthetics which include vivid colour schemes and a mise en scene that screams 'attention to detail', combined with the use of popular music that evokes nostalgia, create an experience like no other. Lesser filmmakers have tried mimicking his distinct vision and the fact that almost each one of them has failed at it makes him nothing less than an auteur.

His latest offering is the science-fiction romantic drama Asteroid City, a tale of great whimsy that boasts every bit of the filmmaker's quintessence. The film, having toured the world, is finally ready for a worldwide release and here's a rundown of everything we know about it:

Release Date

Asteroid City first premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the coveted Palme d'Or prize. The premiere was received tremendously well at the festival, bookended by a dazzling red carpet entry and a six-minute standing ovation after the screening, with Anderson and the film's glorious cast in attendance. 

The film then had a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 16, 2023. Asteroid City is scheduled for a wider theatrical release across the world, including India, on June 23, 2023.

Trailer

The first trailer of this 'space-themed fable was dropped on March 29 and immediately evoked curiosity for its intriguing story backdrop and sprawling cast that includes some of the most talented names in Hollywood. Of course, the brand of Wes Anderson, too, mattered to the viewers who, based on the comments, were quite drawn into the quirky world comprising space conventions, fathers and sons, starlets and of course, aliens. 

Plot

Wes Anderson's latest creative endeavour transports us to the alluring Asteroid City, a fictional American desert town that gains its fame and name because of a meteorite impact that occurred way back in 3007 B.C. Cut to 1955, a Junior Stargazer convention is on its feet in the town which beckons to space enthusiasts from across the country and it is here, during this seemingly special-yet-regular occasion, that 'world-changing events' take place. In short, an alien pays a humble visit to the town.

While this forms the backdrop, Anderson explores interpersonal relationships with his trademark dry wit and biting humour which are further accentuated by the use of bold hues and characteristic framing.

Cast

Wes Anderson is among those select few filmmakers in the world who can muster a most stunning ensemble cast completely on a whim. Just as with his previous expeditions, Asteroid City, too, boasts some of the finest and most exciting names in the acting world and quite possibly, he has bettered himself this time around. His main man Jason Schwartzman is back playing one of the chief protagonists with Anderson summoning the services of Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johanssen, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Margot Robbie and several more. Not to forget, Steve Carell is part of the cast in the role of 'a motel manager'.

Budget

Despite the whimsical setting and the outrageously illustrious cast at the centre of it all, Asteroid City is said to be made on a budget of $25 million. Reportedly, Scarlett Johansson slashed her otherwise whopping fee to accommodate Anderson's needs in the modest budget, charging only $4,131 per week for the two months she spent shooting. 

Also Read:
Asteroid City: When and Where to watch Wes Anderson's retro-futuristic comedy drama 

OTT Platform

Distributed by Focus Features (United States) and Universal Pictures (International), Asteroid City is expected to debut on Peacock in the month of August (2023). But the makers are yet to make an official confirmation about the same and one also awaits more clarity on the relevant OTT platform(s) that would be brought on board for Indian viewers.