"Richie is the one who gets along best with Royal," Luke Wilson says. "Chas is uptight, and Royal can't relate to Margot because he sees himself as more of a man's man. And Richie finally figures out how his being the favorite has adversely affected his brother and sister. It's something he tries to deal with.
"He's caught in this loop where he sees how everything in his life could be perfect, where everyone in his family is really smart and he's in love, but it's all wrong, because everyone in his family is an overachiever and the woman he loves is his adopted sister. Everything's thrown off for him."
Another role written with a particular actor in mind was the part of the Tenenbaum family matriarch Etheline. Anderson saw Anjelica Huston as Etheline from the start.
"Along with being a great actor, she also has a warmth and sophistication and a very interesting background that seemed like something to draw on," Anderson says. "Also, I think she's had experience with people who are like the characters in the film, so she just seemed to fit in. But, mostly, I just wanted to write something specifically for her."
"I was already a fan of Wes's work because I had seen 'Bottle Rocket," Huston says. "After we had lunch together, I watched 'Rushmore' and really enjoyed it. And then I read the new script. I agreed to do it with very little deliberation. I like the interaction among the people, the fantasy quality and the dark humor.
"Etheline is very loving toward her children but she is bound to Royal. They're devoted to each other in a way. I think for Etheline, Royal is a necessary heartbreak. So although he drives her mad and she tries to protect the rest of her family from him, she realizes that there is a need in the household for a father.
"As soon as I accepted the role, I started to receive drawings that pertained to my character," Huston continues. "Mostly, she appeared in very small suits with strange hairdos in the drawings. Wes also sent me photographs of his mother, who is called Texas Anderson, an archaeologist, like my character. He even produced h is mother's old eyeglasses for the early scenes. I asked him, 'Wes, am I playing your mother?' I think he was astonished by that idea," she laughs.
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