Wes Anderson seems bent on toying with my emotions. Last week, it seemed all but a done deal that Johnny Depp would headline the ensemble cast of Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Now, The Film Stage tells us that Depp is out of the cast list.
Here’s what Anderson had to say in a recent interview.
“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.”
I can only say that I’m disappointed, not least because it looked like Anderson was branching out from his usual ensemble. Also because Johnny Depp in a Wes Anderson film was simply one of the coolest things I’d heard in a long time.
All is not lost, however. Anderson confirmed that the cast does include Bill Murray, which is no surprise but always welcome. Plus, both Jude Law and Angela Lansbury are also confirmed, albeit in minor roles. Rumors continue to abound about other Anderson regulars like Willem Dafoe and Jason Schwartzman too.
Anderson begins shooting The Grand Budapest Hotel in December, so we should know before long who will fill the Depp-sized hole in the cast. Maybe Robert Downey Jr. is available?
We will keep an eye on the cast list for The Grand Budapest Hotel as details emerge.