Wes Anderson has worked with many of the same actors over the years, and the Asteroid City cast is full of his regulars, but there are also a lot of new faces playing characters in the movie. Anderson's 11th feature is set in 1955 in a fictional American town in the desert. The plot involves the attendance of the Junior Stargazer convention in the titular location. Being home to a mysterious asteroid draws a lot of quirky tourists to the town too. To populate the town of Asteroid City during this time, the movie has assembled most of Anderson's regular troupe for a star-studded ensemble.
One famous face who is notably missing from the cast of Asteroid City is Bill Murray. The 2023 release is the first Anderson movie without an appearance from Bill Murray since his appearance in the director's sophomore feature, Rushmore. In fact, Murray has been in a record-setting nine Anderson films. If he had been cast in Asteroid City, Owen Wilson would have tied with Murray, but he too had to skip this one. In their place are some Wes-world newbies, including Tom Hanks, alongside other recurring favorites, such as Jason Schwartzman. Here's a guide to the actors in Asteroid City and who they play.
Jason Schwartzman As Augie Steenbeck
Jason Schwartzman plays Augie Steenbeck in the Asteroid City cast. Jason Schwartzman owes his acting success to Anderson, just as Anderson owes some of his directorial success to Schwartzman's performances in his movies. The two are regular collaborators and Schwartzman's lead role as Max Fischer in Anderson's Rushmore established both of their styles of acting and directing. Schwartzman even co-wrote three Anderson-directed movies; The Darjeeling Limited, Isle of Dogs, and The French Dispatch. Augie is one of Schwartzman and Anderson's most layered characters yet, as he's a grieving widower who is at a crossroads when it comes to raising his four children.
Scarlett Johansson As Midge Campbell
Scarlett Johansson's Asteroid City character is Midge Campbell, a revered Hollywood actor. The role of the Hollywood starlet is Johansson's first live-action part in a Wes Anderson movie. Before Asteroid City, she was part of the voice cast of Isle of Dogs. However, she fits in perfectly with Anderson's regular live-action collaborators, as she plays Midge with just as much dry humor as everyone else in the Asteroid City cast. Midge has a fling with Augie and struggles with constantly being in the spotlight due to her fame. However, as Asteroid City is both actually a play and a TV documentary about the play, Johansson amusingly plays an actor playing an actor.
Jeffrey Wright As General Grif Gibson
Jeffrey Wright s the Asteroid City cast as Grif Gibson. Another actor making his second Wes Anderson cast appearance in Asteroid City, Wright plays a military leader involved with the Junior Stargazer convention. As Anderson's characters have hilariously unique quirks, Grif's is his commitment to delivering compelling speeches, which couldn't be more appropriate for Wright. Wright is known for his commanding voice, and the character seems tailor-made for him. The actor made his debut in Anderson's troupe in The French Dispatch, but Wright is also known for playing Felix Leiter in Daniel Craig's James Bond series, and he played Commissioner Gordon in The Batman.
Jake Ryan as Woodrow Steenbeck
Jack Ryan plays Woodrow Steenbeck in the Asteroid City cast. Woodrow is Augie's genius grandson who can project logos onto the moon. Though Ryan doesn't have many credits due to being so young in the industry, he's an Anderson regular. Asteroid City is Ryan's third outing with Anderson. Prior to being a featured player in the cast of Asteroid City, Jake Ryan appeared in Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom and voiced a character in Isle of Dogs.
Tilda Swinton As Dr. Hickenlooper
Tilda Swinton's Asteroid City character is Dr. Hickenlooper. The Oscar-winning actress first worked for Wes Anderson in Moonrise Kingdom and has been involved in every one of his movies since, making Asteroid City their fifth collaboration. Dr. Hickenlooper is a scientist at a local observatory. has a lot in common with Swinton's character in The French Dispatch, as she doesn't have many social skills, is committed to her work, and gives lengthy speeches that only she's fascinated by. Swinton won an Academy Award for her role in Michael Clayton, she plays The Ancient One in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and she voiced Death in Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.
Bryan Cranston As The Host
Bryan Cranston s the Asteroid City cast as The Host. Another actor making his first live-action appearance in a Wes Anderson movie, Cranston previously voiced the main character, Chief, in the animated feature Isle of Dogs. Though Cranston's character doesn't have a proper name in Asteroid City, that doesn't mean it isn't an important role. Cranston plays the host of the TV documentary about the making of the play Asteroid City, and it makes for some of the best fourth-wall-breaking jokes in the movie. Cranston is best known for plays Walter White, a.k.a. Heisenberg, the teacher-turned-druglord, in Breaking Bad. However, Bryan Cranston also has a distinct following for his role as Malcolm in the Middle.
Edward Norton As Conrad Earp
Edward Norton plays Conrad Earp in the Asteroid City cast. Conrad is a legendary playwright who created Asteroid City, and he's featured in the TV documentary part of the movie that focuses on the making of the play. Asteroid City marks Norton's fifth casting in a Wes Anderson movie. Like Swinton, Edward Norton started his collaborations with Wed Anderson in Moonrise Kingdom. and has been part of the troupe ever since. Norton is a three-time Academy Award-nominated actor, having been nominated for Primal Fear, American History X, and Birdman. The actor is also known for everything from classics, such as Fight Club, and recent hits, such as Glass Onion.
Adrien Brody As Schubert Green
Adrien Brody's Asteroid City character is Schubert Green, a famed director who is hired to direct the Asteroid City play. Schubert is unlikable but committed to his work, and he often imposes his own feelings and grief into his work. Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody collaborated with Wes Anderson on four movies prior to being cast again by the filmmaker for Asteroid City. He co-starred in The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The French Dispatch. Brody won an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Pianist, and he's also known for his roles in The Village, King Kong, and Succession.
Tom Hanks As Woodrow's Grandfather
The biggest star in the cast of Asteroid City is two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks. While he seems to play a character that Bill Murray might have embodied, Hanks was part of the ensemble when Murray was still on board. Hanks makes his Wes Anderson movie debut as the father-in-law of Jason Schwartzman's character and grandfather of Woodrow and three other children. The actor has worked multiple times with such directors as Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan; Bridge of Spies), Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump; Cast Away), Penny Marshall (Big; A League of Their Own), Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle; You've Got Mail), and Ron Howard (Splash; Apollo 13). Adding Wed Anderson to this list feels, if anything, like a long time coming.
Steve Carell As The Motel Manager
Steve Carell s the Asteroid City cast as Motel Manager, his first time working with Wes Anderson. Steve Carell was cast in Asteroid City when Bill Murray had to drop out after testing positive for COVID-19. Steve Carell's character The Motel Manager is simple but opportunistic, capitalizing off the tourist attraction by selling timeshares and vending-machine martinis. Carell to fame in the role of Michael Scott on The Office, although this is far from his only prominent role. His popular movie characters include Brick in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and its sequel, the titular role of Andy in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the voice of Gru in the Despicable Me and Minions franchise, and real-life murderer John du Pont in Foxcatcher, which earned him an Oscar nomination.
