Trailer Trash Feature: 8th – 28th October

(Bi-weekly feature written for Lost In The Multiplex)

We’re going to start making this feature a little shorter from now on, so here’s some of the biggest and newest trailers from the past few weeks, with the brilliant first trailer for Marvel’s upcoming Iron Man sequel, to the first teaser for the remake of Carrie.

Iron Man 3

So let’s kick things off with the fantastic first trailer for Marvel’s Iron Man 3, which sees Robert Downey Jr. reprise his role as the charmingly egotist Tony Stark, as he once again dons his iron suit, this time to face the an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man? Directed by Shane Black, this first look at the film looks daring, exciting, and surprisingly even quite dark in places, as it also introduces us to a number of new characters including the protagonist played by Ben Kingsley, who looks pretty epic in character, and a threatening Guy Pearce. If anything goes by Black and Downey Jnr’s previous work together with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, this is going to be brilliant, to say the least. Set to be released on 26th April 2013, Iron Man 3 also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale, and the films’ previous director Jon Favreau.

Gangster Squad

Another big release this past fortnight is the first official trailer for Ruben Fleischer’s anticipated Gangster Squad. Based on a true story and starring Sean Penn as the ruthless New York gangster Mickey Cohen, the film is set in Los Angeles in 1949 and retells the events surrounding a special task force known as the Gangster Squad, led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), whose efforts were focused on taking back their nascent city from one of the most dangerous mafia bosses of all time. Also starring Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Peña, and Robert Patrick, and based on Paul Lieberman’s original seven-part article in the LA Times, I can’t wait to see how the Zombieland director’s efforts will play out. The new trailer looks promising at least, giving a hint of brilliant action sequences and strong performances all around. Initially set to be a strong awards contender this season, the films delayed release means that we won’t get to see this film until 11th January, 2013.

Hitchcock

Also set to thrive in this year’s awards season, we have the first trailer for Hitchcock, which stars Anthony Hopkins as the eponymous world-renowned director, as the film follows him and his wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) during the making of Hitchcock’s seminal movie, Pyscho. Directed by Sacha Gervasi, making his feature debut behind the camera, and adapted from Stephen Rebello’s original novel, Hopkins looks incredible in his role, and the new trailer is certainly enough to get your excitement bubbling. Also starring Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh, Jessica Biel as Vera Miles, Toni Collette as Peggy Robertson, and James D’Arcy as Anthony Perkins, Hitchcock is set to be released on 8th February, 2013.

Carrie

The first teaser for the upcoming Carrie remake also looks very encouraging. An adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel and directed by Kimberly Peirce, Chloe Grace Moretz takes the lead as high-schooler Carrie White who, after being pushed too far by her classmates and mother, unleashes telekinetic hell. The new trailer looks somehow a lot darker than the original film which first adapted by Brian De Palma in 1976 and starring Sissy Spacek in the lead. Whilst it won’t have that same classic horror edge to it that Palma’s adaptation has, the new trailer certainly looks pretty terrifying still. Also starring Julianna Moore as Carrie’s conservative mother Margaret, Judy Greer as gym teacher Miss Desjardin, Portia Doubleday as snooty Chris Hargenson, Gabriella Wilde as Chris’ best friend Sue Snell, and Ansel Elgort as high school heartthrob Tommy Ross, Carrie is set to be released on 5th April, 2013.

Zero Dark Thirty

With the ability to scare on a more realistic level, we also have the first full-length trailer for Kathryn Bigelow’s Bin Laden film, Zero Dark Thirty. Following the director’s acclaimed 2008 US war film, The Hurt Locker, this upcoming war drama tells the true-life story of the decade-long global hunt for Osama bin Laden. Headed up by an impressive cast including Mark Strong, Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Jason Clarke, Scott Adkins, Jennifer Ehle, Chris Pratt, Édgar Ramirez, Frank Grillo, Nash Edgerton, and Mark Duplass, with Ricky Sekhon taking the role of Bin Laden himself, the film is set to be released on 25th January, 2013.

Safety Not Guarenteed

One of my more anticipated films for this year is for Colin Trevorrow’s Safety Not Guaranteed, which also has a new trailer this week. After making its debut at Sundance in January, the film has had some great reviews. From the producers of Little Miss Sunshine and from a script by Derek Connolly, the film follows a group of investigative journalists who are looking into an advertisement stating, “Wanted: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.” Starring Aubrey Plaza (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Mark Duplass (co-director of Jeff, Who Lives At Home), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), and Kristen Bell (Heroes), the new trailer looks brilliant and highly entertaining. Safety Not Guaranteed will be released in the UK on 26th December.

People Like Us

Set to be released next month, we have the presumably final trailer for Alex Kurtzman’s feature directorial debut, comedy-drama People Like Us. Inspired by true events, the film follows a twenty-something salesman who is forced to put his recently deceased father’s estate in order, and to reconnect with his estranged family. Recently titled Welcome to People, the film is headed up by Chris Pine (This Means War) and Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) in the leads, with supporting roles by Olivia Wilde, Jon Favreau, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Hall D’Addario, Mark Duplass, and Philip Baker Hall. Set to be released on 9th November, whilst the film has already had its DVD and Blu-Ray release over in the US, the new trailer is much of what we have already seen, but it further highlights Kurtzman’s strongest aspect of his work with his inevitably strong character developments.

Safe Haven

And finally, we have the first trailer for the latest Nicolas Sparks novel, Safe Haven. Directed by three-time Oscar nominee Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape) and led by Josh Duhamel (Transformers) and rising young star Julianne Hough (Footloose, Rock of Ages), the new trailer looks like all of Spark’s movies rolled into one! Following a young woman’s struggle to love again when she arrives in a small North Carolina town, her reluctance to join the tight knit community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting down roots, and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex, a widowed store owner with two young children. But dark secrets intrude on her new life with such terror that she is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice and rely on the power of love in this deeply moving romantic thriller. I bet you’ve made up your mind about this one already, so it’s safe to say that the new trailer will only further verify whatever you’re thinking. Also starring Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, The Avengers) and David Lyons (Grey’s Anatomy), the film is set to be released on 8th February, 2013 in the US, but there is no word yet on a UK release yet, though I’m almost positive it won’t be long until we hear otherwise.