The Sad Reason Wes Anderson’s Latest Movie Won’t Feature Frequent Collaborator Bill Murray

Image Source: Getty / Stephane Cardinale – Corbis

Director Wes Anderson is known for his colorful and quirky comedies starring an endless rotation of his A-list actor friends, from Bill Murray (who starred in “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Rushmore,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and more) to Tilda Swinton and Edward Norton, who both starred in “Moonrise Kingdom,” and now, his upcoming film, “Astroid City.”

Details about “Astroid City” are few and far between, but we do know it’s a period comedy that takes place in a desert town rocked by an otherworldly event in the 1950s. While the arguably most iconic of Anderson’s frequent collaborators, Murray, will reportedly not appear in the film for an unfortunate reason, the movie still sounds promising. From the movie’s plot and cast to its poster, check out everything we know about Wes Anderson’s “Astroid City” ahead.

“Astroid City”‘s Plot

According to the movie’s official logline, “‘Asteroid City’ takes place in a fictional American desert town circa 1955,” where “the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.”

“Astroid City” Cast

It’s no surprise that “Astroid City,” much like most of Anderson’s films, is stacked with A-list talent. Still, this list of stars is particularly impressive. The cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, and Jeff Goldblum.

Why Isn’t Bill Murray in “Asteroid City”?

While Murray was set to appear in the movie in its early stages, he was forced to withdraw from production when he contracted COVID-19, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Astroid City” Release Date

“Astroid City” hits theaters on June 16.

“Astroid City” Poster

The poster for “Astroid City” was released on March 28 and teases the expansive fictional desert where the movie takes place.

Image Source: Focus Features

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