Why Ralph Fiennes Was the Only Choice for ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’

Among the most beloved Wes Anderson films, The Grand Budapest Hotel is chock-full of primo talent. This is nothing new for Anderson, who has been making A-list ensemble movies since the late nineties. But when it came to casting Monsieur Gustave, Anderson says Ralph Fiennes was the only choice. 

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ stars Ralph Fiennes as Monsieur Gustave

ralph fiennes grand budapest hotel
Actor Ralph Fiennes attends “The Grand Budapest Hotel” premiere at Alice Tully Hall on February 26, 2014 in New York City. | Mike Pont/FilmMagic

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a story within a story, with the majority of the film unfolding in the 1930s. Anderson takes viewers on a whimsical journey back to the heyday of the fictional Grand Budapest Hotel. There, the devoted and meticulous Monsieur Gustave provides guests with the experience of a lifetime. Viewers soon find out that Gustave will go to any length to ensure guest satisfaction — including sleeping with the elderly women staying there. 

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