Searchlight’s “The Roses” starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, will release on Aug. 29.
The dark comedy is directed by Jay Roach (“Bombshell,” “Meet the Parents”) and is written by Tony McNamara (“Poor Things,” “The Great”). “The Roses” is inspired by the 1989 classic “The War of the Roses,” based on the novel by Warren Adler.
As the specialty banner describes, life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch) successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.
Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, Belinda Bromilow and Kate McKinnon also star. Roach, Michelle Graham, Ed Sinclair and Tom Carver are producers on “The Roses.” Cumberbatch is also a producer under his SunnyMarch banner, alongside producing partners Adam Ackland and Leah Clarke.
“‘The Roses’ is a wildly funny, bigger than life, and yet deeply human story,” said Searchlight president Matthew Greenfield upon the project’s announcement last April. “With Jay at the helm, and Benedict and Olivia and Tony, we have a dream team bringing it to life.”
20th Century Fox released the original adaptation of “The War of the Roses” novel in 1989, directed by Danny DeVito and starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, reuniting with an acidic bite after starrig in “Romancing the Stone” together. DeVito’s film won numerous awards and garnered one BAFTA and three Golden Globe nominations, including for best motion picture comedy.
