Riz Ahmed Boards New Wes Anderson Film

Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) has been tapped for a role in the newest film from Wes Anderson, Deadline can confirm.

Details as to the plot of the untitled feature, as well as Ahmed’s role are under wraps. But this is the actor’s first project with Anderson, who is coming off his first Oscar win for his Netflix short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, based on the story by Roald Dahl. Michael Cera will also be introduced to Anderson’s world in the new film, as previously reported, with his regular collaborators Benicio del Toro and Bill Murray on board for roles, too.

Currently filming in Berlin, the film is written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, whose collaboration goes back to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. No word yet as to who will serve as its distributor. Anderson hinted at the project in a September 2023 interview with Deadline, noting that he and Coppola had just finished the script for a Del Toro-led feature before the start of the writers strike. Further cast is also under wraps at this point, but given Anderson’s tendency to pursue huge ensembles, expect many more names to emerge in the coming weeks to months.

Most recently seen starring opposite Jessie Buckley and Jeremy Allen White in the romantic drama Fingernails, marking the English-language debut of renowned Greek filmmaker Christos Nikou, Ahmed starred prior to that in the Oscar-winning Sound of Metal, as well as films like Encounter and Mogul Mowgli.

Up next, he’ll be seen in David Mackenzie’s thriller Relay with Lily James and Sam Worthington. News of Ahmed’s latest casting was first reported by THR.