The film has been described as "a love letter to journalists set at an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city", centering on four stories. It brings to life a collection of tales published in the eponymous The French Dispatch, based in the fictional French city of Ennui-sur-Blasé (literally Boredom-on-Blasé). The film is inspired by Anderson's love of The New Yorker, and some characters and events in the film are based on real-life equivalents from the magazine. One of the three stories centers on the May 68 student occupation protests, inspired by Mavis Gallant's two-part article "The Events in May: A Paris Notebook". Another story, featuring Adrien Brody's character of Julien Cadazio (Adrien Brody), is based on "The Days of Duveen", a six-part feature in The New Yorker on art dealer Lord Duveen.
When speaking to French publication Charente Libre in April 2019, Anderson said: "The story is not easy to explain, It's about an American journalist based in France who creates his magazine. It is more a portrait of this man, of this journalist who fights to write what he wants to write. It's not a movie about freedom of the press, but when you talk about reporters you also talk about what's going on in the real world."
Adrien Brody as Julien Cadazio an art dealer, based on Lord Duveen
Tilda Swinton as J.K.L. Berensen a writer and a staff-member of the French Dispatch
Léa Seydoux as Simone a prison guard and Rosenthaler's muse
Frances McDormand as Lucinda Krementz a journalist profiling the student revolutionaries
Timothée Chalamet as Zeffirelli a student revolutionary; boyfriend of Juliette
Lyna Khoudri as Juliette a student revolutionary; girlfriend of Zeffirelli
Bill Murray as Arthur Howitzer Jr. the editor of the French Dispatch, based on Harold Ross, the co-founder of The New Yorker
Owen Wilson as Herbsaint Sazerac a travel writer and staff-member of the French Dispatch, based on Joseph Mitchell, a writer for The New Yorker
Jeffrey Wright as Roebuck Wright a food journalist based on an amalgamation of James Baldwin and A.J. Liebling
Mathieu Amalric as The Commissaire a policeman with a kidnapped son
Steve Park as Nescaffier (as Stephen Park)
Elisabeth Moss as Alumna a copy editor of the French Dispatch staff
Jason Schwartzman as Hermes Jones a cartoonist and member of the French Dispatch staff
Fisher Stevens as French Dispatch staff member
Griffin Dunne as Legal Advisor
Anjelica Bette Fellini as Proofreader
Anjelica Huston as Narrator
Tony Revolori as Young Rosenthaler
Lois Smith as Upshur 'Maw' Clampette
Henry Winkler as Uncle Joe an uncle and business partner to Cadazio
Bob Balaban as Uncle Nick an uncle and business partner to Cadazio
Alex Lawther as Morisot a student revolutionary
Mohamed Belhadjine as Mitch Mitch a student revolutionary
Nicolas Avinée as Vittel a student revolutionary
Jarvis Cocker as the voice of Tip-Top a French pop singer
Rupert Friend as Drill-Sergeant
Cécile de France as Mrs. B.
Guillaume Gallienne as Mr. B. (as Guillaume Gallienne de la Comédie-Française)
Christoph Waltz as Paul Duval an art collector
Liev Schreiber as Talk Show Host
Edward Norton as The Chauffeur
Willem Dafoe as Albert the Abacus a prisoner and underworld accountant
Saoirse Ronan as Principal Showgirl a member of the kidnapping gang
Hippolyte Girardot as Chou-fleur
Toheeb Jimoh as Cadet #1
Wallace Wolodarsky as Cheery Writer (as Wally Wolodarsky)
Benicio Del Toro as Moses Rosenthaler
Denis Ménochet as Prison Guard
Larry Pine as Chief Magistrate
Morgane Polanski as Girlfriend
Félix Moati as Head Caterer
Tom Hudson as Mitch-Mitch (on stage)
Lily Taieb as Juliette's Friend (as Lily Taïeb)
Stéphane Bak as Communications Specialist
Winsen Ait Hellal as Gigi
Mauricette Coudivat as Maman
Damien Bonnard as Police Detective
Rodolphe Pauly as Patrolman Maupassant
Antonia Desplat as Junkie / Showgirl #2
Pablo Pauly as Waiter
Gilles Gauthier as Man with Camera
Nahel Bahnas as Choirboy
Akim Bahnas as Choirboy
Antoine Foo Cheung as Choirboy
Francois Foo Cheung as Choirboy
Samy Guerry Ghindri as Choirboy
Felicien Marais as Choirboy
Nathanael Marfin as Choirboy
Basile Vinueas as Choirboy
Evelyne Chapeau as Old Lady with Choirboys
Paula Kvasnikoff as Kissing Student
Vallier Vaudin as Kissing Student
André Coussy as Old Man Who Has Failed
Hassane Haimoud as Boy Scout
Pauline Chadanson as Streetwalker
Carlotta Costanzi as Streetwalker
Mauricette Genon as Streetwalker
Christelle Grelier as Streetwalker
Rachel Merabet Hrdy as Streetwalker
Sara Lacroix as Streetwalker
Delphine Landrieau as Streetwalker
Louise Laveuve as Streetwalker
Kylian Freslon as Gigolo
Meermout Didier as John in Car
Nicolas Saada as Lawyer
Yannick Mazzilli as Bartender
Guillaume Mailland as Representative Prisoner
Jean-Pierre Grasset as Old Man in Tavern
Victor Nicolas as Butcher Boy
Jean Delabre as Cruel Man in Tavern
François-Pierre Fol as Vivaldi Trio
Bruno Torres as Vivaldi Trio
Jean-Louis Verdier as Vivaldi Trio
Grégory Trouvé as Caterer
Loîc Baxas as 'Maw' Clampette's Doctor
Eliel Ford as Cadazio's Nephew
Mathéo Sallat Desvard as Cadazio's Nephew
Dominique Barrier as Magistrate
Pascal Champareau as Magistrate
Sacha Seguin as Maid
Jacky Vallantin as Foreign Legion Officer
Domingos Enrico as Rosenthaler Father
Abdel Nour Bouaza as Rosenthaler Son
Fanny Rebuffic as Simone at Six
Juliette Raffray as Simone at Twelve
Lou Lampros as Simone at Sixteen
Odile Fougère as Simone at Forty
Come Loury as Bootblack
Victor Piechaud as Bootblack
Charlie Rosser as Bootblack
Mathys Raynaud as Bootblack
Thomas Poirson as Bootblack
Gabriel Mesnard as Bootblack
Raphael Delage as Bootblack
Briac Aubin as Bootblack
Raphael Bancarel as Bootblack
Tiago Allaire as Bootblack
Martin Frappier as Bootblack
Raphael Dias as Bootblack
Victorien Belly as Bootblack
Samuel Amblard as Bootblack
Sam Poupart as Bootblack
Milo Bancarel as Bootblack
Charles Audry as Bootblack Customer
Francois Boussiron as Bootblack Customer
Jean-Pierre Coudert as Bootblack Customer
Patrick Morcelli as Bootblack Customer
Bernard Richefort as Bootblack Customer
Djemal Saidoun as Bootblack Customer
Vincent Griere as Bricklayer
Arthur Guillebaud as Bricklayer
Mehdy Hassani as Bricklayer
Jérémy Martincourt as Bricklayer
Nicolas Pasciani as Bricklayer
Eutrope Roger as Bricklayer
Marti Torrens as Bricklayer
Pierre Cantaral as Pickpocket
Louis Changeur as Pickpocket
Denis Havard as Pickpocket
Halbo Kool as Pickpocket
Pascal Lefort as Pickpocket
Jean-Benoit Pinot as Pickpocket
Gregory Sacriste as Pickpocket
Antonio Terroso as Pickpocket
Marc Tournier as Pickpocket
Jean Marie Camps as Butcher
Dominique Donnary as Butcher
Claude Gaume as Butcher
Jacques Grattepanch as Butcher
Damien Nadaud as Butcher
Gilbert Papponnaud as Butcher
Robert Rabouin as Butcher
Willem Rompen as Butcher
Jacky Souchet as Butcher
Malik Tati as Butcher
Jean-Claude Audouin as Man Shining Shoe
Alban Ploix as Ticket Vendor
Laurent Bauer as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Fanny Taccoen as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Tahnee Peterson Stuart as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Maud Brethenoux as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Anna Budanova as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Audrey Chemin as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Guillaume Ferrant as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Nisrine Mofaraj as 'Brique Rouge' Clubgoer
Polina Glangetat as Old Lady with Punks
Fabien Marcadet as Punk
Luc Louis as Punk
Karim Youssouf as Punk
Rudy Chaperon as Punk
Quentin Fournier as Punk
Orguiene Corniere as Punk
Manon Talandier as Punk
Lucas Bascans as Punk
Alexis Vignaud as Punk
Paul Raymond as Punk
Jean-Michel Audoual as Prison Guard
Félix Bouin as Prison Guard
Patrick Brousse as Prison Guard
Raynald Caraguel as Prison Guard
Lhoussine Chinkir as Prison Guard
Xavier Dupin as Prison Guard
Eric Garaud as Prison Guard
Morgan Lorca as Prison Guard
Laurent Pizzolato as Prison Guard
Romuald Cormeunier as Prisoner
Didier Da Costa as Prisoner
Antonio Da Silva as Prisoner
Charlie Defraine as Prisoner
Erick Dues as Prisoner
Jacques Fauvel as Prisoner
Yoann Gaillard as Prisoner
Anthony Poupart as Prisoner
Thierry Gonzalez as Prisoner
Sébastien Guignard as Prisoner
Raphael Lagrue as Prisoner
Simon Malyon as Prisoner
David Robles as Prisoner
Sandro Kopp as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Pedro Firmino Cunha Da Souza as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Pascal Battelier as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Lionel Lassuderie as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Duc Minh as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Cyril Morandiere as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Benoit Nacaud as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Jean Jacques Peyraud as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Lubna Playoust as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Patricia Richefort as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Owen Soba as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Adrien Yeung as The French Splatter-School Action-Group
Krishna Bagadiya as Blind Writer
Julie Lechat as Amanuensis
Gaelle Puimaly as Accountant
Leo Jennings as Copy Boy
Alexandre Steiger as Howitzer's Doctor
Philippe Peyraud as Man Smoking Cigarette
Gérard Merle as Man Outside Café
Jean Pierre Grasset as Weathered Man with Hat
Yannick Begoin as Magazine Delivery Man
Yves Gaillard as Old Man at Wine Shop
Jerome Caminotti as Old Man at Metro Map
Pierre-Yves Martron as Police Cyclist
Philippe Pelletier as Police Cyclist
Landry Marinette as Woman Rolling Groceries
Natal Koli as Kansas Gravedigger
Sharif Andoura as Professor
Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus as Mayor
Laureen Reby Perrocheau as Zeffirelli's Sister
Mallaury Reby Perrocheau as Zeffirelli's Sister
Sophie Fougère as Aide
Genevieve Brillet as Secretary
Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet as T.V. Reporter
Bruno Delbonnel as Tip-top
François-Marie Charvet as Tip-top
Jean-Pierre Chabernaud as Police
Olivier Lecossois as Police
Philippe Szezepanski as Police
Noël Wojcik as Police
Gontran Bisserier as Police
Christian Cordoba as Police
Thibault Descamps as Police
Jonathan Herbon as Police
Marceau Jarrossay as Police
Tiburce Oger as Police
Noé Richefeux as Police
Gilles Verdegay as Police
Kublah Diezi as Kidnapper
Stéphane Le Bras as Kidnapper
Armand Pierdon as Kidnapper
Gilles Frougier as Kidnapper
Bérénice Bernard as Student
Jean Bourdet as Student
Antoine Bourgeais as Student
Lou Salomé Brizard as Student
Zoé Delisle as Student
Julies Desrosiers as Student
Simon Ecary as Student
Ida Fermaud as Student
Hugo Fontaine as Student
Raphael Gallego as Student
Tom Grandadam as Student
Adrien Hans as Student
Yann Hedan as Student
Adèle Herisson as Student
Antoine Jové as Student
Pierre Lamoureux as Student
Quentin Ledru as Student
Salomé Lesaffre as Student
Rémi Larcher as Student
Hugo Leonard as Student
Eliott Lienard as Student
Sybil Marzin as Student
Thy-Lane Monnet as Student
Mathieu Moreau as Student
Munik Neth as Student
Florine Paulius as Student
Emeline Penet as Student
Coline Peron as Student
Constantin Rytz as Student
Bertille Rondard as Student
Alice Sarrauste as Student
Igor Secherre as Student
Laura Studden as Student
Emilien Wiss as Student
Boris Zanni as Student
Angus Henderson as Student
Gaëtan Billères as Student
Sally Bruice as Student
George Smith Burgess as Student
Marie Derambure as Student
Alix Champy as Student
Victor Chevalarias as Student
Lise Cordellier as Student
Arthur Dalle as Student
Lola Degove as Student
Sean Delaunay as Student
Michael Didier as Student
Juliane Fath as Student
Julie Gervaos as Student
Rachel Guerineau as Student
Guillaume Laverdant as Student
Théo Malet as Student
Titouan Maret as Student
Stephen Martin as Student
Nathan Mazeau as Student
Lucas Nativel as Student
Théo Navas as Student
Marie Lucie Parisot as Student
Émile Pélissier as Student
Manon Taccoli as Student
Gautier Rigaud Perut as Student
Raphael Coutant as Student
Émilie Tronche as Student
Nicholas Croucher as Cadet #2 (as Nick Croucher)
Sam Haygarth as Cadet #3
Samuel Blenkin as Cadet #4
Jake Gorridge as Cadet #5
Calvin Williams as Cadet #6
Pierre Aloui as Additional Cadet
Louis Blanchard as Additional Cadet
Hugo Bony as Additional Cadet
Adrien Brault as Additional Cadet
Alex Chadeffaud as Additional Cadet
Matisse Croizard-Niveau as Additional Cadet
Alfie Flight as Additional Cadet
Théo Fibaque as Additional Cadet
Mathieu Grattard as Additional Cadet
Paul Lafon as Additional Cadet
Elie Mazalrey as Additional Cadet
Samuel Montgomery as Additional Cadet
Florian Salesse as Additional Cadet
Quentin Veillon as Additional Cadet
Benjamin Lavernhe as Toothpowder Spokesman (as Benjamin Lavernhe de la Comédie-Française)
Gabriel Ryan as Younger Gigi
Léo Gack as Cadet / Nanny
Cécilia Anseeuw as Junkie / Showgirl #3
Gilberto Fallat Valle as Stetson van Altman
Monique Lapeyre as Spinster van Altman
Christian 'Kiki' Delpey as Hieronymous van Altman
Cyril Sierk as The Jeroboam
Jean-Claude Loulmet as Ancient Concierge
The duration of the film is 103 minutes. The film's budget is $25 million.
Principal photography began in November 2018, in the city of Angoulême (South-West France) and wrapped in March 2019.
