The classic actor Wes Anderson wished he could work with: “I can think of a lot of things he’d have been great for”
Wes Anderson has honed one of the most recognisable filmmaking styles in all of cinema. Defined by a commitment to symmetry and colour palettes, it’s quirky and kitschy but charming all the same. From the pink landscapes of The Grand Budapest Hotel to the underwater dwellings of The Life Aquatic, he’s won over countless art kids with tote bags swinging off their shoulders.
While his visual style may be the most striking part of Anderson’s style, the director is also known for his mammoth ensemble casts. The Grand Budapest Hotel alone features Ralph Fiennes, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Jeff Goldblum, just to name a few. His films are always filled to the brim with huge names, many of whom he has honed long-standing relationships with.
From Owen Wilson to Jason Schwartzmann, Anderson is a creature of habit when it comes to casting, preferring to work with creatives he knows and trusts. During a conversation with the BBC, Anderson was asked if there were any names he’d be particularly keen to add to the list. He was hesitant to answer, determined not to put any future partnerships at risk, but, he did offer up the name of one late actor he wishes he could have collaborated with before his death.
“I would have loved to have worked with Marlon Brando,” the filmmaker shared, “I can think of a lot of things he’d have been great for.” Brando is one of the most well-known and well-loved actors of all time, a master of the medium, so it’s no surprise that Anderson wishes he could have collaborated with him. Most directors probably share this feeling.
Brando was no stranger to an auteur director, and likely would’ve worked well within Anderson’s ever-specific visions. Over the course of his career, the actor starred in several of Francis Ford Coppola’s most acclaimed movies, including The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, as well as Elia Kazan’s On the Waterfront.
With a filmography that spans theatre adaptations, epic stories, and off-kilter comedies, Brando would’ve had no issue taking on an Anderson role. It would have been a blessing to see Brando riffing with Murray amidst Anderson-esque landscapes and quirky dialogue, running down the corridors of the Grand Budapest or in the wilderness of Moonrise Kingdom.
Brando passed away when Anderson was still in the fairly early days of his career in 2004. At the time, Anderson had just three feature credits to his name, his debut, Bottle Rocket, his first collaboration with Schwartzmann, Rushmore, and the Academy Award-nominated The Royal Tenenbaums.
Brando was the only name Anderson was willing to give during the early 2000s interview, noting that he didn’t want to “screw it up” with the other actors he hoped to work with. Since then, he has honed even more collaborative relationships with the likes of Swinton, Adrien Brody, and Tony Revolori, names who perhaps would have been on his private list at the time.
While it’s particularly difficult to place Brando’s face into Anderson’s unique stylings, Gene Hackman’s Royal Tenenbaum seems the most natural fit. Unfortunately, we can only imagine what a collaboration might have looked like between Anderson and Brando. It would have been a masterful pairing of actor and director, two of the best at their craft, and surely would have resulted in a magical piece of cinema.
Revisit the trailer for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Anderson’s most recent offering, below.