Bryan Cranston says starring in a Wes Anderson film is like being an instrument

Bryan Cranston has compared the lead role in a Wes Anderson movie to an instrument in an orchestra.

The 67-year-old actor stars in the all-star cast of Anderson’s new film Asteroid City and compared the eccentric director to a music conductor.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Bryan said, “It feels like Wes Anderson is conducting an orchestra. And we are all players of our specific instrument.

“We hyperfocus on our instrument and just present it without really knowing exactly how it’s going to fit together.

“And he’s conducting — a little less Bryan, a little more Scarlett (Johansson) right now, or whatever, making the adjustments as he goes.”

Conductor: The 67-year-old actor stars in the all-star cast of Anderson’s new film Asteroid City and likened the eccentric director to a conductor of music

Orchestra: Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Bryan said, “It feels like Wes Anderson is conducting an orchestra. And we are all players of our specific instrument

Cranston plays the role of a television host in the 1950s film, and the star described it as Anderson’s “love letter to the performing arts,” as it features both stage and screen media.

The Breaking Bad star said, “It’s a movie about a television show doing a story in a theater.

And I think it’s Wes’s love letter to performance art. He has put his arms around the three great mediums we are involved with.’

Jason Schwartzman, a frequent collaborator of Anderson, stars in Asteroid City as Augie Steenbeck, a recently widowed war photographer, crediting the Isle of Dogs filmmaker’s curiosity for his career success.

The star – who starred in eight of Anderson’s films – recalled: “I was 17 when we met (on Rushmore) and he was the first person outside of my family over the age of 20 to actually ask a question. and cared about what I said and was curious about what I was interested in.

“I feel like that’s why we’re all here. Because (Wes) wants to know more about all of us and he’s curious and he always sees things in us that we don’t see,” he added.

Scarlett Johansson, who plays 1950s movie star Midge Campbell in the film, reflected on Anderson’s unique way of working at the Cannes press conference.

She compared Anderson’s style to a theater production.

New movie: A still from the image shows Jason Schwartzman, left, and Tom Hanks, right

Theater: Scarlett Johansson, who plays 1950s movie star Midge Campbell in the film, reflected on Anderson’s unique way of working at the Cannes press conference, comparing Anderson’s style to that of a theater production

Experience: Cranston plays the role of a television host in the 1950s film and the star described it as Anderson’s “love letter to the performing arts” as it features both stage and screen media

Frequent collaborator: Jason Schwartzman, a frequent collaborator of Anderson’s, said, “My feeling is that’s why we’re all here. Because (Wes) wants to know everything about all of us and he’s curious and he always sees things in us that we don’t see,” he added

Performance art: The ‘Breaking Bad’ star said, ‘It’s a movie about a television show doing a story in a theater

Love letter: ‘And I think it’s Wes’ love letter to performance art. He has put his arms around the three great mediums we are involved with’

“It’s not the familiar process of being on a soundstage and going to your trailer and having all this downtime, which eats up the momentum,” said Johansson.

“It feels very alive like you’re working in the theater.”

The film also stars Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Maya Hawke, Margot Robbie, Steve Carrell, Matt Dillon, Tilda Swinton, Steve Park, Rita Wilson, Willem Dafoe and Jeff Goldblum.

The film is distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures. It will be in cinemas from June 23.