Auteur Wes Anderson is easily the doyen of aesthetic film-making. Those who are aware of the filmmaker’s marvelous filmography will know that Wes Anderson conjures magic with the camera. His movies are sensory overloads, and delightful stimulation for both the eyes and the mind.
We at Binged had informed our readers that Netflix has signed a lucrative deal with Wes Anderson for a slate of films. The first of those films are ready to roll out this September on Netflix worldwide. The films are a series of shorts, adapted from Roald Dahl’s well-loved stories. Four short films from Wes Anderson will premiere on Netflix in September. The four films are ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’, ‘The Swan’, ‘The Ratcatcher’, and ‘Poison’.
Wes Anderson has adapted the four short stories in a bold and unpredictable way — with the cast reciting Roald Dahl’s words directly to the audience while acting them out, and set pieces cycling in and out as if in a stage play. It’s a new perspective on Anderson’s signature aesthetic.
Each film stars a rotating cast of actors taking on multiple roles. Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade make up the primary cast of the film series.
‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’ premiered at the Venice International Film Festival this year, and received rave reviews from critics at Venice. It currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Here’s the list of four films, their release dates on Netflix, plot and cast –
1. The Wonderful World Of Henry Sugar – 40 minutes, 27th September
A beloved Roald Dahl short story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade
2. The Swan – 16 minutes, 28th September
A young adult Roald Dahl short story about a small/brilliant boy ruthlessly pursued by two large/idiotic bullies. Starring Rupert Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Asa Jennings
3. The Ratcatcher – 17 minutes, 29th September
A lesser-known Roald Dahl short story about a professional rodent exterminator.
Starring Richard Ayoade, Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Friend
Poison – 16 minutes, 30th September
A well-known Roald Dahl short story about a man who discovers a poisonous snake asleep in his bed.
Starring Dev Patel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley