During a surprise appearance at the Cinema Paradiso event held at Paris’ Louvre Museum, director Wes Anderson and actor Bill Murray thrilled the audience by revealing that they have been discussing a potential Western project for years.
Anderson noted that fellow Texans Owen and Luke Wilson could also join the cast of this future cowboy film, adding that making it together feels like their “destiny.”
#BillMurray says he wants to star in a cowboy movie directed by #WesAnderson:
— Variety (@Variety) July 2, 2026
“He’s from Texas, and I feel like he owes it to the world to make a cowboy movie.”
Murray and Anderson presented “The Grand Budapest Hotel” in the courtyard of the Louvre, where MK2 is holding Cinema… pic.twitter.com/Hqf9ysIIcw
While on stage, Murray shared a humorous behind-the-scenes anecdote about the director’s habits, jokingly teasing that Wes Anderson never smiles on set all day until he finally gets his evening dessert—specifically chocolate or panna cotta. This upcoming project would mark yet another chapter in their long-standing collaboration; Murray has already starred in 10 of Wes Anderson’s films, only missing Asteroid City after contracting COVID-19, which led to his role being filled by Steve Carell.
This exciting exchange took place against the vibrant backdrop of Cinema Paradiso, a four-day open-air festival organized by the indie film powerhouse MK2 in the Louvre’s courtyard. The event offers a unique, free cinema and live music experience to 3,000 spectators selected via a lottery system, operating on a production budget of roughly €2 million funded entirely by corporate sponsors.
