Wes Anderson is not a fan of the viral TikTok trend inspired by his films
Don't show him the TikToks, whatever you do.
By Nick Reilly
Wes Anderson has said he’s not too pleased with the recent viral TikTok trend inspired by his distinctive directorial style.
In the last couple of months, TikTok users have taken to mimicking the American auteur’s style in videos which have been dubbed the “Wes Anderson challenge”.
But in a new interview with The Times, the Royal Tenenbaums director has revealed how he’s firmly keeping the trend at an arm’s length.
“I’m very good at protecting myself from seeing all that stuff,” Anderson said, adding that he has asked his friends to refrain from sending him any of the posts.
“If somebody sends me something like that I’ll immediately erase it and say, ‘Please, sorry, do not send me things of people doing me.’
“Because I do not want to look at it, thinking, ‘Is that what I do? Is that what I mean?’” he added. “I don’t want to see too much of someone else thinking about what I try to be because, God knows, I could then start doing it.”
The trend has seen users emulating Anderson’s style to film a day in their own life, while classic films such as Star Wars and Avatar have also been suitably Anderson-ified.
His next film comes in Asteroid City, which will arrive on the UK on June 23. The film, which debuted to acclaim in Cannes last month, is said to be a romcom that provides a “poetic meditation on the meaning of life”.
As well as frequent Anderson collaborators such as Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, the film also features leading turns from Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Steve Carell – marking the first time that all three have worked with the director.
Others featuring in the film include include Scarlett Johansson, Maya Hawke, Jeff Goldblum, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Liev Schreiber, Tony Revolori, Matt Dillon, Sophia Lillis, Steve Park, Fisher Stevens, Ethan Josh Lee, Hong Chau and Rita Wilson.
An official synopsis states: “The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organised to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.”
A soundtrack has been composed by Sheffield icon Richard Hawley, as well as Jarvis Cocker – who is rumoured to appear in a cameo role as a cowboy.
It’s Anderson’s follow-up to The French Dispatch, a love-letter to journalists which was released in October 2021.