Cast of The Phoenician Scheme: Full List, Roles & Stars

Wes Anderson has built a reputation for assembling dream ensembles, but The Phoenician Scheme throws a curveball that goes beyond the usual roster of A-listers. Two of the film’s most talked-about cast members have famous parents—and their roles are anything but token appearances. As audiences sort through the credits, the question isn’t just “who’s in this?” but “why does this cast feel like a family affair?”

Director: Wes Anderson · Release Year: 2025 · Lead Actor: Benicio Del Toro · Notable Cast: Tom Hanks, Truman Hanks, Mia Threapleton · Genre: Espionage black comedy thriller

The table below summarizes key details about The Phoenician Scheme from reliable sources.

Was Tom Hanks’ son in The Phoenician Scheme?

Yes—and not in a background-extra sense. Truman Hanks, born 1995 and son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, lands a named role in Anderson’s ensemble. His character Administrative Secretary doesn’t survive the film, but the role itself marks something notable: a second-generation actor stepping into his father’s type of ensemble territory.

Truman Hanks’ role as Administrative Secretary

IMDB and TMDB both list Truman Hanks as Administrative Secretary in the film (Cinemorgue Wiki). According to fan-documented sources, his character meets a particularly violent end—blown in half by a bomb intended for Benicio del Toro’s Zsa-Zsa Korda. It’s a gory exit that would fit comfortably in an Anderson film known for absurdist violence wrapped in pristine visuals.

Connection to Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks appears separately as Leland, a mistrustful Korda investor from Sacramento (Wikipedia). This marks Hanks’ second Wes Anderson collaboration after Asteroid City, making The Phoenician Scheme something of a family affair—father and son in the same film, playing different characters with different fates. Cosmopolitan notes this as a notable family casting moment (Cosmopolitan).

Is Kate Winslet’s daughter in The Phoenician Scheme?

Mia Threapleton appears as Sister Liesl, and yes—she is Kate Winslet’s daughter. Her casting as Korda’s estranged daughter thrust her into a spotlight that’s difficult to prepare for: sharing scenes with Anderson veterans while playing a character whose arc spans from convent life to business heir.

Mia Threapleton’s role as Liesl

Both IMDB and Wikipedia confirm Threapleton as Sister Liesl, Korda’s designated heir and estranged daughter (Wikipedia). The official synopsis describes her as “a nun” whom her father appoints as sole heir to his estate—a setup that immediately raises questions about why a businessman would name a cloistered religious sister as his sole beneficiary. Threapleton’s character arc appears to move from the convent into the machinations of her father’s scheme.

Addressing misconceptions about her career

Cosmopolitan confirms this is Threapleton’s first Wes Anderson film (Cosmopolitan), placing her in stark contrast to nearly everyone else in the ensemble. While she’s not a newcomer to acting, The Phoenician Scheme marks a significant step up—notably, it comes with a director who typically works with the same faces repeatedly. Her inclusion breaks that pattern somewhat, suggesting Anderson saw something specific in her casting.

Who are the main cast members of The Phoenician Scheme?

The ensemble runs deep, anchored by a protagonist whose moral compass points sharply toward self-interest. Anderson populates Zsa-Zsa Korda’s world with business partners, antagonists, and a rotating cast of eccentric figures—each operating at cross-purposes in an international scheme that draws in investors, terrorists, and assassins alike.

Benicio Del Toro

The film’s lead plays Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda, described in sources as a ruthless businessman seeking reconciliation with his estranged daughter (Wikipedia). Korda’s setup—a wealthy patriarch, a nun daughter, a new enterprise that attracts enemies—places him at the center of every conflict. Del Toro’s casting brings gravitas and moral ambiguity to a character whose business practices seem to generate half his problems.

Michael Cera as Bjorn

Michael Cera plays Bjørn Lund and Bjørn Karlsen, a Norwegian entomologist and tutor (Wikipedia). The dual character name suggests Anderson’s typical playful approach to identity—and Cera’s deadpan delivery seems built for the material.

Riz Ahmed as Prince Farouk

Riz Ahmed plays Prince Farouk, the crown prince of Phoenicia, described in the synopsis as a key figure in the scheme itself (Wikipedia). His involvement suggests the business isn’t merely commercial but has sovereign dimensions.

Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston

Tom Hanks plays Leland, a Korda investor from Sacramento, while Bryan Cranston plays Reagan, Leland’s brother and business partner (Wikipedia). Rotten Tomatoes lists both in their cast database, with Cranston’s role positioning him as a recurring presence in the business dealings (Rotten Tomatoes).

Who is the director and key crew of The Phoenician Scheme?

Wes Anderson’s fingerprints appear throughout the project: as director, writer, and producer. The production companies—American Empirical Pictures and Indian Paintbrush—represent his longtime collaborators Steven Rales and his own established outfit.

Wes Anderson direction

Wikipedia confirms Anderson as director, writer, and producer of the 2025 espionage black comedy thriller (Wikipedia). The synopsis describes the film as “the story of a family and a family business”—a theme Anderson has explored before but never quite in these terms. He conceived the story with Roman Coppola, who also serves as screenwriter alongside Anderson (Universal Studios Wiki).

Notable supporting cast

The ensemble extends well beyond the core. Rotten Tomatoes lists Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob, Richard Ayoade as Sergio, Jeffrey Wright as Marty, Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda, Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar Korda, Rupert Friend as Excalibur, Hope Davis as Mother Superior, Bill Murray as God, Willem Dafoe as Knave, Charlotte Gainsbourg as 1st Wife, and F. Murray Abraham as Prophet (Rotten Tomatoes). Collider notes Rupert Friend’s character as the leader of a consortium fixing material prices—suggesting economic sabotage as a narrative driver (Collider).

What roles fill out the cast like Mother Superior, nun, butler, and Sergio?

Beyond the headline names, the cast includes specialty characters that give the film its texture. These smaller roles often define Anderson films as much as the leads—watching for them becomes part of the viewing experience.

Specialty character roles

Hope Davis plays Mother Superior, connecting directly to Mia Threapleton’s Sister Liesl character—the mother superior presumably oversees the convent from which Liesl is drawn (Rotten Tomatoes). Richard Ayoade plays Sergio, a role that IMDB searches confirm but provides minimal description. Bill Murray appears as God—which, in Anderson’s typical absurd framing, likely appears as an actual character rather than a metaphor.

Full credits overview

Beatrice Campbell plays young Liesl, suggesting the film includes flashbacks or younger versions of the daughter character (Universal Studios Wiki). Willem Dafoe as Knave and F. Murray Abraham as Prophet round out the eccentric supporting cast, with both actors bringing their respective histories with Anderson to smaller, memorable roles.

Rotten Tomatoes critic

An A-list variety show that will particularly tickle Andersonites.

Film Synopsis

Wealthy businessman Zsa-Zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.

The pattern in Anderson’s casting—across The Phoenician Scheme specifically—isn’t just about marquee names. It’s about finding actors who can deliver deadpan absurdity with precise timing. Whether that’s a second-generation star like Truman Hanks with his brief, explosive exit, or Mia Threapleton stepping into her first Anderson film as the daughter who must navigate her father’s schemes, the choices feel purposeful. The film asks its audience to track not just one protagonist but an entire ecosystem of schemers, investors, and assassins—each played by someone whose presence feels earned.

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Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme assembles stars like Benicio Del Toro and Michael Cera, where a detailed ensemble breakdownuncovers key roles and behind-the-scenes insights.

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