Although we were hoping Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling‘s Drive follow-up Only God Forgives would sneak into the 2012 release calendar, that wish has passed and it looks as though the duo will be returning to Cannes Film Festival as a May bow is set. Aside from a barrage of images – primarily featuring our star looking like he’s on his way to the hospital — the marketing has been pretty quiet, but as 2013 begins, it is finally gearing up.

The first teaser has landed out of France, and while it’s a quick 20 seconds, it provides our first footage from the Thailand-set film. Beginning with Gosling at a bar asking a patron if he wants to fight, we then get to see some brief glimpses of action, including gunplay, a rising katana and some fist-to-fist fighting, as well as transformed Kristen Scott Thomas in her supporting role. Hopefully an extended look is in store soon, but this does enough to hold us over for now. Check it out below.

Synopsis:

Julian (Gosling) lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family’s drugs smuggling operation. When Julian’s brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna (Kristen Scott Thomas), arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian’s contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.

Only God Forgives is expected to premiere at Cannes before opening on May 23rd.