Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City is as meticulously detailed as you’d expect from the director — you’ll want to physically pause the cinema screen to take in every student-made death ray, real estate vending machine, sprawling diner menu, headline-barking newspaper, and Frosty Spoon gooseberry wriggle ice cream punnet in the film.
Luckily, there’s an exhibition that lets you read every last scrap of paper, examine every costume, and immerse yourself in the flawless sets from Anderson’s desert-bound alien adventure. Before you scroll any further, keep in mind this story and the exhibition are an official spoiler zone, so you might want to see the movie first.
‘Asteroid City’ review: Wes Anderson’s latest is for the fans
Opened in London’s 180 The Strand, a sprawling new show(opens in a new tab) produced by Universal Pictures collates the original sets, costumes, props, models, and artwork featured in Asteroid City, with a facade you can’t miss from the street, replicating the exterior of the Luncheonette diner. Despite the excitement from passers-by I overheard on the street, there is no way in hell any eatery in London is selling hamburgers for 50 cents — these are the film’s 1955 prices and purely for show.
Not a new buzzy London restaurant but the entrance to the ‘Asteroid City’ exhibition.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Open now until July 8, the exhibition takes you through the film’s various settings within the eponymous town, from Steve Carell’s Motor Court cottages — and yes, the windows through which famous actor Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson) and war photographer Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) build their fleeting but poignant connection. You can even do your own pose, if you give a damn.
Midge’s cottage bathroom as Augie sees it.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Importantly, you get to see the Motor Court’s incredible vending machines up close, to figure out what exactly they’re offering and how they operate. Can someone please make a working version of the martini machine, please?
Those glorious vending machines.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Someone make this martini machine.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
If you’re peckish, the exhibition finishes with a re-creation of the Luncheonette diner, where you can order a cup of coffee or grab a grilled cheese.
Pull up a pew.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
The exhibition includes the township of Asteroid City’s only telephone booth, scrawled with numbers over the years. There’s also the government’s space observatory and, in a touching display, the costumes and props from the burial scene with Tom Hanks’ Stanley Zak and his three witchy granddaughters — including the Tupperware urn.
There’s a bunch of scribbling inside the telephone box.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
A moving bit of curation.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Shred those documents.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Costumes-wise, there are plenty more here from the Junior Stargazer student geniuses (and every one of their science projects), the opening ceremony gear of their government hosts General Grif Gibson (Jeffrey Wright) and his aide-de-camp (Tony Revolori), and something I truly wanted to take home with me: the denim clad cowboy band outfits led by Rupert Friend with his pals Seu Jorge and Jarvis Cocker.
Can I… can I have these?
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Gen. Grif Gibson doesn’t do launches half-assed.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Junior Stargazers and all their genius projects.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
Every piece of curation includes meticulously produced paperwork too, including the adorable drawings and song lyrics created by June Douglas’ (Maya Hawke) class of alien-obsessed young’uns.
That planet map is too cute.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
What a tiny songwriter.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
There’s also the train carriage scene between Midge and Augie’s son Woodrow Steenbeck (Jake Ryan), and the suited stylings of the noble narrator (Bryan Cranston) in his TV studio. There’s the Junior Stargazer’s tent, with all its alien-communicating tech. And of course, there’s the alien ship itself.
These parts are in black and white, so it’s neat to see them in colour IRL.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
This one too!
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
A peaceful visitor.
Credit: Universal Pictures / 180 The Strand
For fans, there’s a bunch of merch available including extremely cute alien paraphernalia which has real Nope energy.
The Asteroid City exhibition(opens in a new tab) is now open until July 8 at 180 Studios, 180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA from 12 to 7 p.m BST. Tuesdays to Sundays. Tickets are £15 for general admission, concessions £9, and kids under 12 free.
Meanwhile, Asteroid City opens in select theaters June 16, expanding globally on June 23. Read Mashable’s review.
