Not much is known about Wes Anderson's next film, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" -- Anderson has been coy about plot details, simply referring to is as "Euro" -- but one thing that seemed to be known was the lead, Johnny Depp. We spoke to Anderson on Saturday (who is currently in Italy working on a project) to discuss the Blu-ray release of "Moonrise Kingdom." During our conversation (the full interview will publish next week), "The Grand Budapest Hotel" was discussed and Anderson is still being coy about the details. Except one: It won't be starring Johnny Depp. (Though, rest assured, it will star Bill Murray.)

The rumor appears to have stemmed from a Deadline.com report in July, and was widely carried on a number of entertainment news sites, including HuffPost Entertainment. But Anderson says the story was without merit.

Your next movie is The Grand Budapest Hotel," which is reported to star Johnny Depp?
It's not Johnny Depp.

Oh, it's not?
No. There's a lot of... You know, the Internet has a way of announcing things on its own [laughs]. You will find that even though I'm very aware of the cast that has been announced on its own devices, you'll never find me saying who's in the movie. Or, as far as I know, anybody else. I really don't know where it all comes from. In fact, Johnny is somebody who I would love to work with at some point, but he's not going to be in this movie. But I actually have not put the cast out -- I have not announced the cast. We have quite a great cast.

Well, Bill Murray is in it. He's been telling people during his "Hyde Park on Hudson" press tour that he's in it. Unless he's lying?
[Laughs] That's true. That's true. Bill is in it. Bill is in it.

You've labeled it a European story.
Yeah, it's "Euro." That's about all I've been saying.

After several serious turns in "Coriolanus," "Great Expectations" and Sam Mendes' upcoming James Bond pic "Skyfall," two-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes is in talks to star in writer-director Wes Anderson's next film "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

Anderson is producing the Euro-set pic with his "Moonrise Kingdom" collaborators Scott Rudin and Steven Rales of Indian Paintbrush.

Fiennes is making a deal to play a character named M. Gustave, who serves as the hotel's perfectly composed concierge.

While Anderson is fond of working with the same troupe of actors including Bill Murray, who is expected to appear in "Hotel," he has actively recruited actors he's never worked with before, including Jude Law.

Fiennes will soon be seen alongside Daniel Craig in "Skyfall," which Sony opens Nov. 9. He also plays Magwitch in Mike Newell's adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Additionally, Fiennes plays Dickens opposite Felicity Jones in "The Invisible Woman," which he also directed.

Released by Focus Features back in May, "Moonrise Kingdom" has grossed $63 million worldwide.

Fiennes is repped by CAA and Dalzell and Beresford.

Saoirse Ronan to star in 'Budapest Hotel'
Thesp joins Fiennes, Law, Murray, Schwartzman in Anderson pic
By JEFF SNEIDER


Having established herself as one of the leading dramatic actresses of her generation with turns in "Atonement" and "The Lovely Bones," Saoirse Ronan is looking to try her hand at lighter fare, as she's set to play the female lead in Wes Anderson's next movie "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
As Variety first reported, Ralph Fiennes will star in the period pic alongside Jude Law and Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, among others. While Anderson is fond of working with the same troupe of actors, he has actively recruited international thesps he's never worked with before such as Fiennes, Law and now Irish thesp Ronan.

The director has said that the story, set 85 years ago in a Hungarian hotel, is partly inspired by the witty films of Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch ("The Shop Around the Corner").

Anderson is producing the Euro-set pic with his "Moonrise Kingdom" collaborators Scott Rudin and Steven Rales of Indian Paintbrush. Production is skedded to start early next year in Germany.

Ronan, who was nominated for an Oscar at the age of 13 for her supporting perf in "Atonement," will next be seen in Andrew Niccol's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel "The Host," which Open Road Films will release March 29. Thesp is attached to star in Working Title's drama "Mary Queen of Scots" and most recently wrapped Kevin Macdonald's "How I Live Now," while Neil Jordan's "Byzantium" and Geoffrey Fletcher's "Violet & Daisy" are awaiting release.

partly inspired by the witty films of Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch ("The Shop Around the Corner").