Michael Cera on Finally Working With Wes Anderson and His ‘Phoenician Scheme’ Character’s ‘Very Silly’ Accent: ‘It Took All of Us a Minute to Feel Normal About It’

In “The Phoenician Scheme,” it was a cherished wish for Michael Cera that came true – collaborating with the esteemed director, Wes Anderson.

Despite his quirky sense of humor and endearing awkwardness, it’s surprising to learn that this is the debut of “Scott Pilgrim” and “Barbie” actor, Michael Cera, in Wes Anderson’s imaginative, vibrant universe. However, this wasn’t initially planned – Cera was set to appear in the 2023 film “Asteroid City”, but unfortunately, the role didn’t materialize due to a joyful circumstance: the birth of Cera’s first child.

Nonetheless, Cera’s acting skills were significantly rewarded in “The Phoenician Scheme,” where he brilliantly played Bjorn, a peculiar tutor to Benicio del Toro’s affluent businessman. This character, Bjorn, finds himself embroiled in an international escapade alongside his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton). Known for his exaggerated Norwegian accent and love for insects, Bjorn provides much of the film’s humor. Later on, he proves crucial to the plot as part of the title scheme.

Prior to the screening of the movie at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday evening, Cera discusses with EbMaster his collaboration with Anderson, creating the character of Bjorn, and his impending directorial debut.

How did you first get involved in “The Phoenician Scheme”?

Simply put, receiving an invite from Wes was a given for me, considering my enthusiasm towards collaborating with him ever since I watched “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Needless to say, I was thrilled at the prospect.

It’s surprising that this is your first collaboration with Anderson. How long have you known each other?

Over the past two decades, I’ve had a social relationship with Wes. We first crossed paths quite some time ago, and now we’re approaching the 20-year mark. Our initial encounter was at a gathering, but since then, we’ve kept in touch throughout the years. Wes has been particularly encouraging to me regarding various projects I’ve been working on. He’s taken the time to review my work and has always offered helpful advice and support. Moreover, I’ve always dreamed of being part of one of his film productions.

What was your reaction when you first read the script?

I’m quite intrigued, exclaiming, “Wow, I can hardly wait to see how he manages to construct this world.” To be honest, I had no clue about his approach to creating such a detailed universe. The character of Bjorn, as well as all the other characters, were incredibly well-rounded, which I found captivating. This film offers an extravagant journey through the realm of wealth – a delightful spectacle to watch.

How did you form the character of Bjorn?

1. In the script, he’s undeniably Norwegian, but there wasn’t much else to go on for me. However, Wes’ dialogue made it quite clear, and I had a sense of what kind of atmosphere it would create within the overall narrative. Working with Wes, Mia, and Benicio, especially getting the accent right, required some refinement.

2. The script clearly indicated that he was Norwegian, but there wasn’t much more to the character. Thanks to Wes’ dialogue, I could visualize the tone it would set for the story. Working with Wes, Mia, and Benicio, particularly mastering the accent, was a process of finesse.

3. It was evident from the script that he was Norwegian, but there wasn’t much more to his character. Wes’ dialogue helped me understand the mood it would bring to the story. Collaborating with Wes, Mia, and Benicio, especially nailing the accent, required some fine-tuning.

4. The script made it clear that he was Norwegian, but there wasn’t much detail about his character. With Wes’ dialogue, I could imagine the vibe it would contribute to the plot. Working with Wes, Mia, and Benicio, particularly focusing on the accent, took some adjustments.

5. In the script, he was Norwegian without a doubt, but there wasn’t much more to his persona. Wes’ dialogue helped me grasp the essence it would contribute to the narrative. Collaborating with Wes, Mia, and Benicio, especially getting the accent right, needed some fine-tuning.

I believe Wes seemed a bit anxious that his character might be overly demanding or too intense, perhaps asking too much from the viewers due to his strong accent and appearance. To ensure harmony within the overall production, we needed to adjust certain aspects. However, once we began filming scenes, it felt perfectly suited. I’m curious about how the Norwegian audience will receive it.

How did you keep from breaking on set due to the accent?

1. It was quite absurd, but we soon grew accustomed to the situation. Adjusting to my glasses, however, proved challenging due to their unusual prescription, which made everything appear distorted, like looking through a fishbowl and losing any sense of depth. Over time, I managed to adapt to them.

2. It was quite foolish, but we quickly acclimated ourselves to it. Adjusting to my glasses, though, was difficult because they had an extreme prescription that made everything seem distorted, as if looking through a fishbowl and giving no sense of depth or perspective. However, I eventually became accustomed to them.

3. It was quite silly, but we quickly got used to it. My glasses, however, were tough for me to adjust to due to their excessive prescription, which made everything seem distorted and gave me a feeling of looking through a fishbowl with no sense of depth or anything. But eventually, I learned how to cope with them.

4. It was quite ridiculous, but we quickly became comfortable with it. Adapting to my glasses, however, proved challenging due to their powerful prescription, which made everything seem distorted and gave me a feeling of looking through a fishbowl without any sense of depth or perspective. But eventually, I managed to adjust to them.

5. It was quite absurd, but we soon grew accustomed to it. The hardest part for me to adapt to, honestly, was my glasses because they had this extreme prescription and made everything seem distorted, like looking through a fishbowl without any sense of depth or anything. However, I eventually learned how to handle them.

6. It was quite foolish, but we quickly became accustomed to it. My glasses were tough for me to adjust to because they had this excessive prescription that made everything seem distorted and gave me a feeling of looking through a fishbowl without any sense of depth or perspective. But eventually, I managed to adapt to them.

7. It was quite ridiculous, but we soon grew accustomed to it. Adjusting to my glasses, however, proved challenging due to their unusual prescription, which made everything seem distorted and gave me a feeling of looking through a fishbowl with no sense of depth or anything. Over time, I managed to adapt to them.

8. It was quite absurd, but we quickly got used to it. My glasses were tough for me to adjust to due to their extreme prescription, which made everything seem distorted and gave me a feeling of looking through a fishbowl without any sense of depth or perspective. But eventually, I learned how to cope with them.

9. It was quite foolish, but we quickly became comfortable with it. Adapting to my glasses, however, proved challenging due to their powerful prescription, which made everything seem distorted and gave me a feeling of looking through a fishbowl without any sense of depth or anything. But eventually, I managed to adapt to them.

10. It was quite ridiculous, but we soon grew accustomed to it. The hardest part for me to adjust to, honestly, was my glasses because they had this extreme prescription and made everything seem distorted, like looking through a fishbowl without any sense of depth or anything. However, I eventually learned how to handle them.

Bjorn has a love for insects and always seems to be carrying a new bug around. Did you learn a lot about them through the character?

I stumbled upon an extraordinary French entomologist named Jean-Henri Fabre, who was somewhat of a contentious figure in his field during his publishing years due to his unconventional methods and self-experimentation. Yet, his writings are captivatingly charming, making them a delight to read. He served as a significant influence on the entomology aspect of my interest, and I found myself immersed in his books each morning. As a result, I absorbed a wealth of knowledge from him, even inspiring my sons to develop a brief fascination with scarab beetles and similar creatures. The world of insects is truly captivating, and the hands-on experience of interacting with these real creatures added to the allure.

Tell me about working with Mia Threapleton and Benicio del Toro. What was it like to play opposite them?

We had a fantastic small production, where Wes joined the team of three including myself. Prior to filming, we spent around two weeks rehearsing together, sharing meals and refining our scenes. This collaboration helped us establish a strong bond and group mentality that permeated throughout the entire movie. The cast was rotating, with various individuals contributing to the production before moving on. It was an immense privilege for me to make my first-time working with Wes in such a significant role. Truly, it exceeded all expectations I had.

What was he like on set?

Working with Wes as an actor is an absolute blast! His direction is incredibly detailed and precise, yet it’s filled with joy and enthusiasm. The atmosphere on set is always upbeat, never feeling tense or pressured – instead, it feels like we’re just enjoying ourselves while putting in hard work. I found the whole experience to be incredibly optimistic, and I grew to love the movie as we were creating it.

Wes has the freedom to shoot multiple takes if needed, which often results in about 20 takes before he’s satisfied. At that point, he encourages us to try something new and continue experimenting for fun. This work environment makes me feel like anything beyond that point is a bonus – it’s all gravy! There are definitely some happy accidents in the final film, and I can only hope for more opportunities to collaborate with him again in the future.

You’ll be making your directorial debut with the comedy “Love Is Not the Answer” starring Pamela Anderson. What can you tell me about that?

I’ve been hurt so much in the past that I tend to doubt things are real until they’re over. With “Asteroid City” disappointing me, I found myself hoping for “The Phoenician Scheme”. It wasn’t until we actually started filming that I felt confident, saying to myself, “It looks like this is truly happening.

I’m quite optimistic that we’ll be able to complete this project by the fall. I’m really thrilled about it, as it’s a piece I’ve written and I have a deep affection for. If we manage to make it, it will truly be an honor to bring my writing to life in such a unique and quirky way. I’m giving it my all, and I hope everything falls into place as it should. However, as they say, success is often about persistence. Just like playing cornhole, you’ve got to keep tossing the bag. Ultimately, whether it lands or not is somewhat dependent on luck.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

2025-05-18 17:18