The Wes Anderson Collection: Asteroid City

by Matt Zoller Seitz, American Empirical Pictures (illustrator)

The official behind-the-scenes companion to "Asteroid City" and the latest volume in the bestselling Wes Anderson Collection series

“ASTEROID CITY”—the eleventh feature film from Academy Award–winning director WES ANDERSON—follows a group of teen geniuses and their families as they attend the 1955 Junior Stargazers convention in the eponymous dusty hamlet. The events of the film, a representation of a fictional play, also titled Asteroid City, unfold in a parallel narrative to a televised broadcast of the creation of a theatrical production. As the lines between reality and theater blur, the audience is treated to stunning technicolor vistas and stark black and white sets, all while the promise of an extraterrestrial visit hangs overhead.
         
In The Wes Anderson “Asteroid City,” the latest one-volume entry in The Wes Anderson Collection, cultural critic and New York Times bestselling author Matt Zoller Seitz presents the complete story behind the film’s conception via interviews with Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman and illuminating behind-the-scenes photos, ephemera, storyboards, models, miniatures, and artwork. Contributions from Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Bryan Cranston, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, and the Junior Stargazers themselves provide reflections on the film’s production and insight into the intricately layered characters.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Wes Anderson is one of my very favourite creatives, and I’m a huge fan of The Wes Anderson Collection seres of books. They are always packed with insights, details, and creativity: the perfect companion to these marvellous movies. Personally, I find these books are best when they combine behind the scenes details with a though and thought provoking critical analysis of each movie (the original and The Grand Budapest Hotel volumes achieved this balance best, I think).

This volume was maybe the first in the series that didn’t quite feel like it was worth the price. Seitz and his team make the unusual decision to leave out much of the behind the scenes commentary. Instead, the bulk of the book features mostly caption free photographs of the making of the film, interspersed with three (very good) interviews and two (very good) critical essays. Reading it through is a more meditative experience, where you feel adrift for long sections in silent images. It’s not an unwelcome experience, but I did miss the packed-with-detail feeling that the other books provide, and felt a little disappointed.

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whoever was the layout editor for this book needs to be fired IMMEDIATELY. I work at a bookstore and therefore was able to see this book early. Flipping through it, I couldn't believe how many photos were ruined by the gutter. Multiple spreads put the focus of the photo in the center. However, this center is eaten up by the book's binding. It happens not once, not twice, but at least five times that I could count. It really was a shame, as the photography (what I could see of it) seemed to be really good quality. But what's the point if you can't see it. I hope my bookstore doesn't sell any copies, it's just a waste of money and art.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal and insightful overview of a film I suspect I'll be revisiting once or twice a year for the rest of my life. I was almost instantly head over heels for this thing and I think it's only grown more impressive since its release. A total miracle movie, the dark horse pick (and in my opinion, the correct one) for Wes's best.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully designed but a bit anaemic in content after the embarrassment of riches that was this author’s book on The Grand Budapest Hotel, which appeared previously in the same series.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asteroid City is another Anderson film that just keeps growing on me with every rewatch. The interviews in the book are great, but it is the photos that make it for me.