The first trailer for The Roses has been officially revealed. The 2025 film is a remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses, which chronicled the story of a couple trying to push each other out of the house during a tough divorce battle. The Roses borrows from this concept, subbing Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner for Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. The film is directed by Jay Roach and features Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, Sunita Mani, and Jamie Demetriou.

Now, Searchlight Pictures has revealed the trailer for The Roses. The trailer opens with a sweet moment between leads Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch). Their seemingly perfect family life is disrupted when Theo gets fired from his job, forcing him to shift into a stay-at-home dad lifestyle. Ivy’s career still flourishes, making Theo jealous and putting a strain on their relationship. Theo makes moves to divorce and is determined to keep their house, sending the couple into a battle of humorously intense proportions.

What This Means For The Roses

The Film Looks Absurdly Comedic

As the second adaptation of the novel by Warren Adler, The Roses trailer shows how much the film will lean into the characters’ intensity to create the comedy. Ivy and Theo are willing to go to great lengths to destroy each other’s lives. While the intentions of these measures are often destructive, the sheer absurdity of what this couple is doing to each other will lead to comedic ends. Although Cumberbatch and Colman are award-winning actors, the film will mark their first collaboration.

While the movie will rely heavily on the performances of lead actors Cumberbatch and Colman, the trailer also hints at the strength of the supporting cast’s performances. Creating an unlikely pairing, McKinnon plays Samberg’s wife in the film, and even in her couple of frames in the trailer, it is clear that her role is characteristically eccentric. Janney, whose character comes in to help Ivy win the house in the divorce, also seems to be a potential standout.

Our Take On The Roses Trailer

Cumberbatch & Colman Are A Great Duo

As a big fan of Cumberbatch and Colman, The Roses trailer is appealing. As evidenced through her parts in The Favourite and Wicked Little Letters, Colman can deliver humor when called upon to act explosively, and she certainly looks to be achieving such a feat here. Roach’s Meet the Parents-infused relationship comedy experience is shining through already in this glimpse at The Roses, giving the film positive prospects.

The Roses is set for release on August 29, 2025.

Source: Searchlight Pictures