While he most certainly could’ve continued down the monkey road after Rise of the Planet of the Apes, director Rupert Wyatt handed things over to Matt Reeves for the follow-up and instead decided to remake a James Caan-led drama. Based on the 1974 film, The Gambler follows Wahlberg’s character as he gets in deep debt due to his titular addiction and the effects are felt by those closest to him, including his mother (Jessica Lange) and significant other (Brie Larson).
In somewhat of a surprise, Paramount announced they are trying for awards consideration by releasing the film before the year’s end and today the first red band trailer has landed. While it doesn’t reveal a great deal of how (or if) the plot differs, it’s a snappy, energetic look and increases our curiosity as Wahlberg goes head-to-head with John Goodman‘s loan shark character. Also featuring Michael K. Williams, check out the trailer and poster below for the film written by The Departed‘s William Monahan.
Jim Bennett (Academy Award®-nominee Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award®-winner Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance…
The Gambler opens on December 19th and expands on January 2nd.