wes anderson 'asteroid city' show landing in london with original sets, props + costumes

an exhibition around wes anderson’s new movie at 180 the strand, london

Opening in London on June 17, a new and immersive exhibition will transport visitors into the creatively whimsical and vibrant world of Wes Anderson’s latest film, ‘Asteroid City’. Curated and presented by 180 Studios and Universal Pictures, the show will feature original sets, props, miniatures, costumes, and artwork and even provide the opportunity to dine out at the film’s iconic 1950s diner, which will be recreated on-site. The ‘Asteroid City’ show will run until July 8, for three weeks, at London’s 180 The Strand. The movie itself is expected to arrive in theaters early this summer following its global premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.

image courtesy Asteroid City

about the ‘asteroid city’ movie plot

Featuring the usual big shots like Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Steve Carell, Jeff Goldblum, and Jason Schwartzmann, Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’ is a sci-fi comedy film set in 1955 in a fictional and desertic American town. The plot centers around an annual Junior Stargazer/Space Convention that celebrates ‘Asteroid Day’, marking a historic event on September 23rd, 3007 BC, when the Arid Plains meteorite hit the earth. Excitement among students and their parents, however, unexpectedly gets disrupted after ‘world-changing events’ rain down on the town.

Watching the trailer, it’s no surprise that Anderson’s color-saturated and symmetrical shots begin to take over every frame, this time concocted in the spirit of 1950s American fashion and consumerism. As the minutes go by, though, things seem to take a darker turn. From bright and sunny to eerie and mysterious, the plot rhythm quickens and breaks, while the color palette veers to somber and cavernous tones, alluding to sci-fi horror. At one point, viewers get the sense that aliens may be behind those extraordinary events (a spaceship-like vessel glowing in neon green). Yet at other moments, Wes Anderson stirs confusion with a night shot of men in hazmat suits investigating…something. And we’ve yet to find out what that something actually is.

movie poster | image courtesy Asteroid City

Co-written with long-time collaborator Roman Coppola and produced by Focus Features, ‘Asteroid City’ is Wes Anderson’s eleventh film and has been in the works since 2020. Focus Features has released three teaser videos in recent weeks on YouTube, each spotlighting the film director’s signature dialogue style (quick and quirky, with many undertones) and humorous character nonchalance: ‘You Were Very Good‘ features Scarlett Johansson, who plays an actrice called Midge Campbell; ‘Are You Married’ shows us Tom Hanks as the main character’s (Augie Steenbeck played by Jason Schwartzmann) father-in-law; and finally ‘You Didn’t Ask Permission’ unites Midge and Augie in the luncheonette diner.

Jason Schwartzmann as Augie Steenbeck | image courtesy 180 Studios

delving into ‘asteroid city’ props, artworks, sounds, and more

This isn’t the first time that 180 The Strand pays tribute to a Wes Anderson movie. In past years, the venue has hosted exhibitions for the movie director’s ‘Isle of Dogs’ and ‘The French Dispatch.’ This summer, for ‘Asteroid City’, an incredible selection of movie props that appear in the trailer — jetpack, meteorite, ray gun, colorful diner signs — will take over the space, complemented by signature Anderson sounds and visuals, miniatures, artworks, and costumes. Even more, visitors can enjoy a meal at the film’s recreated ‘luncheonette’ and purchase some ‘Asteroid City’ goodies, namely soundtrack vinyls and the movie screenplay. You can book your ticket for the exhibition here.