Step into Wes Anderson’s whimsical world with Asteroid City. This film is a delightful mix of humor, heartwarming moments, and heartbreak, showcasing Anderson’s signature style. Set in a small American town in the 1950s, which was actually built in Spain, the film’s surreal aesthetic captures the essence of booming 1950s America and brings to mind classic cartoons like Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner (complete with a roadrunner).

But it’s not just the visuals that make Asteroid City shine. The star-studded cast is another highlight of the film. Anderson brings together his frequent collaborators and introduces exciting new faces. One familiar face is Rupert Friend, who plays the cowboy Montana, while the talented Maya Hawke takes on the role of schoolteacher June. Recently, Rupert Friend and Maya Hawke sat down with FilmmakerFocus to discuss their experiences working on Asteroid City.

Rupert Friend & Maya Hawke on Asteroid City

FilmmakerFocus: Maya, how did you approach your character in a world where the Wes Anderson aesthetic is so well-known, even spawning memes?

Maya Hawke: To be honest, I only discovered the memes when I started doing press for this movie. I’m not really up on the trends, so I had no idea. My approach to the character was solely based on the films I had seen in the past, and I think that was a perfectly fine way to approach it.

Rupert, you had to learn lap steel for your role in the film. Was that the most challenging part of preparing for your character?

Rupert Friend: Learning lap steel was definitely the most daunting part of preparing for my role. Playing music live, like Maya does in the film, is something that I imagine gets easier with practice. But when you’ve never done it before, it’s like public speaking—it can be quite intimidating. However, the other musicians in the cowboy band were incredibly welcoming and helpful, so it turned out fine in the end.

Maya, you’ve had the opportunity to work with both Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. How does that feel?