The Grand Overview
Hold onto your artistic berets, folks! Wes Anderson isn’t stopping at his Netflix debut with “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” The illustrious filmmaker has plans to widen the lens and give us not one, but three more eclectic short films. These gems are inspired by stories from the great Roald Dahl, and will feature a constellation of Hollywood bigwigs—think Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Richard Ayoade, and Rupert Friend. Each actor will play various roles across the anthology’s multiple narratives.
The curtain-raiser of this cinematic anthology, titled “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” spins the yarn of a man who endeavors to acquire the uncanny ability to see sans eyes—mainly so he can rig some casino games. You can catch this quirktacular adventure in selected theaters on September 20 and cozy up to watch it on Netflix starting September 27.
Anderson Spills the Beans at Venice
Showcasing his Netflix entry, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” at the Venice Film Festival, Anderson broke the news that this work was just a tip-off for a grander vision. Alongside this film, three more will come to light, namely, “The Swan,” “Poison,” and “The Ratcatcher,” all based on Roald Dahl’s treasure chest of tales. While Anderson kept the lid tightly sealed on major plot points, he did sprinkle a few crumbs of information about the vibe of each upcoming film.
In a classic Andersonian move, he stated, “We’ve filmed another piece from the Henry Sugar anthology, dubbed ‘The Swan,’ starring Rupert Friend. There’s also an older tale, ‘Poison,’ that I’ve always been smitten with. Oh, and let’s not forget the peculiar ‘Ratcatcher,’ a story plucked from Dahl’s lesser-known book, Claud’s Dog, set in England’s eastern rural outskirts. All of these stories share a common denominator: they’re as weird as a three-dollar bill.”
Star-Studded Short Films
Though it’s only confirmed that Rupert Friend will be in “The Swan,” it’s anticipated that the crème de la crème cast of “Henry Sugar” will also grace the other shorts. According to Friend, Wes Anderson is assembling a “compact ensemble” for these Dahl-inspired flicks, where each of the six star-studded actors will change hats and appear in about two different narratives.
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” revolves around a wealthy guy fascinated by a guru with a no-eyes-needed visual gift. This intrigues him so much that he aspires to master the same skill but for somewhat less enlightened reasons—namely, fleecing casinos. Wes Anderson not only directed this short film but also penned its screenplay, with the production being shouldered by his American Empirical brand, in collaboration with Jeremy Dawson and Steven Rales under the American Paintbrush banner.
Be sure to mark your calendars: “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” will make its grand entry into select theaters on September 20 and will drop on Netflix for your bingeing pleasure on September 27. So grab your popcorn, folks, because this Dahl-Anderson universe is about to get a whole lot stranger and infinitely more captivating!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Wes Anderson Roald Dahl Anthology
What is the main project Wes Anderson is working on?
Wes Anderson is working on a Netflix anthology of short films based on Roald Dahl stories. The series begins with “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” and will include three additional films: “The Swan,” “Poison,” and “The Ratcatcher.”
Who are the A-list actors featured in the anthology?
The anthology will feature a star-studded cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Richard Ayoade, and Rupert Friend. Each actor will take on multiple roles across the various films in the anthology.
When and where can I watch “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”?
What did Wes Anderson reveal about the films at the Venice Film Festival?
At the Venice Film Festival, Wes Anderson confirmed that “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is part of a larger anthology. He also shared that the films are “very, very strange” and provided some insights into the overall narrative for each film, though he stopped short of divulging major plot details.
Are the stories original creations by Wes Anderson?
No, the stories are adaptations of short tales penned by Roald Dahl. Anderson has put his unique spin on them but the original inspiration comes from Dahl’s collection of stories.
What is the plot of “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”?
The film follows a wealthy man who learns of a guru capable of seeing without his eyes. Intrigued, he sets out to master the same skill with the intention of cheating at gambling.
Is Wes Anderson only directing the films?
Wes Anderson is wearing multiple hats for this project. He is not only directing but also wrote the screenplay for “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” The film is produced through his American Empirical brand, alongside Jeremy Dawson and Steven Rales for American Paintbrush.
Will the same cast feature in all the short films in the anthology?
While it’s confirmed that Rupert Friend will appear in “The Swan,” it’s highly anticipated that the rest of the A-list cast from “Henry Sugar” will also star in the other short films in the anthology.
Are there any more Roald Dahl adaptations planned by Wes Anderson?
As of now, Anderson has mentioned that he has “some things brewing” but that “might be it for Dahl for the moment.” So, there may or may not be more Dahl adaptations in the pipeline.
More about Wes Anderson Roald Dahl Anthology
- Wes Anderson’s IMDb Profile
- Roald Dahl’s Official Website
- Venice Film Festival
- Netflix Official Site
- Variety Article on Wes Anderson’s Roald Dahl Anthology
- American Empirical Production Company
- American Paintbrush Production Company
- Overview of Roald Dahl’s Short Stories
10 comments
OMG, Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl together? This is like the peanut butter and jelly of cinema! Can’t wait.
Roald Dahl was my childhood, guys. so excited but also kinda nervous? please don’t ruin it Anderson.
Wow I’ve read all of Dahl’s books. Henry Sugar is a deep cut, y’know? Super curious how Anderson’s gonna translate that to film.
Not really into all these artsy films but that cast list is pretty dope. Maybe i’ll give it a shot. Go team Anderson?
Anderson’s style is so unique, this is gonna be either a masterpiece or a spectacular fail. No in between. But knowing Anderson, I’m betting on masterpiece.
Theatres on Sep 20 and Netflix on Sep 27? thats cool, options for both outing and couch-potatoing.
Anthology, huh? reminds me of those multi-story games where the choices in one affect the others. hope it’s as cool as it sounds.
Anderson doing Dahl is like… Bowie doing Beatles. Mind-blowing and probs iconic. Just take my money already!
the cast is like an Avengers assemble but for quirky drama. just hope they don’t mess up Dahl’s original magic.
Ah man, why does it have to be on Netflix? I just canceled my subscription. But for this, might have to rejoin haha