Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman have a picture-perfect romance — for now — in the first images from this summer’s The Roses. Serving as an updated take on the 1981 novel The War of the Roses (which was first made into a movie in 1989), the upcoming film follows Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch), a happily married couple who begin to see their love sour when Ivy’s career takes off just as Theo’s plummets, leading to a darkly comedic turn of events. The Roses also stars Andy Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, and Allison Janney.

Ahead of its release in August, The Roses has officially debuted its first images via Vanity Fair. The slideshow, which is included below, features Cumberbatch and Colman in various depictions of true love, though the tension appears to be looming in a few key sH๏τs with Janney and McKinnon. Check out all the images below:

What This Means For The Roses

There’s More Looming Beneath The Surface

The original War of the Roses movie, which starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, explored the increasingly ridiculous ways the central characters seek to tear apart their marriage during brutal divorce proceedings. However, The Roses already appears to be taking a distinctly different approach, as the main characters have different names and the woman, Ivy, is the career-minded one. This positions the new movie to be its own project, one that can appeal to modern audiences while telling a familiar and humorous tale.

The images above suggest director Jay Roach has given The Roses a quaint, picturesque feel, likely to offer a hilarious contrast between Ivy and Theo’s initial domestic bliss and their impending chaotic collapse. By so far focusing instead on the love between Cumberbatch and Colman’s characters, it seems The Roses wishes to mess with viewer expectations, at least when it comes to its marketing. An official trailer will likely reveal more of their acrimonious split.

Our Take On The Roses Images

This Is One To Be Excited For

Just from the cast list alone, I was already very excited for The Roses, but these first images have only increased my interest. Colman’s comedic chops have been on display several times recently, from her stint in Paddington in Peru to Wicked Little Letters, but Cumberbatch has largely stuck to more dramatic roles. The idea of a comedy wherein the two acclaimed actors fall out of love and sabotage each other in absurd fashion is a very enticing one, and the above images paint a picture of a well-constructed, gorgeous movie. Hopefully, more details about The Roses will be shared soon.

Source: Vanity Fair