Film news: Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman lead dazzling ensemble in ‘The Roses’
Searchlight Pictures’ The Roses teases a stellar ensemble in a twisted comedy.
A recently released trailer showcased Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as a warring couple in what could be one of Autumn’s best releases.
Film News Blitz’s Ellie Jackson breaks down the trailer and amazing cast for The Roses.
‘The Roses’ is a reinterpretation of a modern classic
Directed by Jay Roach and written by Tony McNamara, The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 film The War of the Roses, which was based on Warren Adler’s 1981 novel of the same name.
The story centres on Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch), a seemingly perfect couple whose marriage deteriorates amid career imbalances, stirring internal conflict and resentment.
Colman and Cumberbatch work together on screen for the first time in The Roses, and the former said the duo came away from the experience in a much better relationship than their characters.
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“Luckily, we’ve managed to stay friends even though we’ve now done our first job together,” Colman told Vanity Fair.
“That’s the fear: that you like each other, and what if you don’t get on when you’re actually on set?
“But it was lovely. I think we both supported each other.”
Speaking of the film, Cumberbatch added, “The film is a parable of two people who loved each other intensely, then ended up hating each other intensely and missing the middle ground.
“Much of it is shockingly recognisable: how we struggle to show love toward the people we love the most, and how this can all go wrong very quickly if we're not careful about nurturing and nourishing the relationships at the centre of our families.”
A stellar cast
The Roses boasts an ensemble cast that blows many motion pictures out of the water when it comes to talent.
Andy Samberg (Brooklyn 99), Allison Janney (The Help), Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who), and Kate McKinnon (Barbie) lead an incredibly strong supporting cast.
The ensemble is in glittering form in the new trailer, which showcases sharp humour and dramatic confrontations, highlighting the film's exploration of ambition, competition, and the complexities of domestic life.
The Original novel: ‘The War of the Roses’ by Warren Adler
Warren Adler’s 1981 novel, The War of the Roses, explores the bitter and destructive divorce between a married couple.
Those narrative themes prop up this forthcoming cinematic adaptation, and the book was renowned for its dark humour and satirical examination of the dissolution of a relationship.
Upon its release, The War of the Roses received a mix of critical responses.
Some reviewers praised Adler’s sharp wit and the novel’s exploration of the extremes of marital discord, while others found the portrayal of characters and events to be exaggerated.
The novel’s unflinching look at the breakdown of a marriage resonated with readers, though its tone and content sparked varied opinions.
A cinematic spin
Specific sales figures for The War of the Roses are not readily available.
However, the novel’s adaptation into a successful 1989 film starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner significantly boosted its visibility and readership.
The film's popularity brought renewed attention to the book, contributing to its enduring presence in discussions about literature and film.
When it hit theatres in 1989, The War of the Roses quickly became one of the most talked-about films of the year.
The casting reunited Douglas, Turner and director Danny DeVito after their previous success with Romancing the Stone (1984) and The Jewel of the Nile (1985).
Their chemistry and comedic timing were once again on full display, but this time in a far darker and more cynical setting.
Can the new film live up to the 1989 original?
UK audiences can find out on September 1, 2025.
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