Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman will star in Jay Roach’s remake of The War Of The Roses, titled The Roses.
Another day, another remake is in the works in La La Land. Well, technically, it’s another adaptation of Warren Adler’s 1981 novel The War Of The Roses, but most people are familiar with 1989’s film adaptation, which memorably starred Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas and was directed by Danny DeVito.
The new adaptation will star Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as the central couple, who proceed with a very nasty, yet very entertaining, divorce.
Jay Roach has signed on to direct, while recent Oscar nominee Tony McNamara is penning the script. The film will simply be called The Roses.
The novel follows a couple, Jonathan (who was named Oliver in the 1989 film) and Barbaba Rose, as their marriage falls apart. In the 1989 film, Barbara simply realises she doesn’t love Oliver anymore and demands a divorce. Their divorce battle quickly turns bitter and horrible, but it makes for a great film.
The remake is changing a few things, including the character names. Here’s an official logline, as posted by Deadline: “Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Colman): successful careers, great kids, an enviable sex life. But underneath the façade of the perfect family is a tinderbox of competition and resentments that’s ignited when Theo’s professional dreams come crashing down.”
Cumberbatch is also producing the film under his SunnyMarch banner. Colman will also be producing, under South of the River. Searchlight Pictures is backing the film.
“The Roses is a wildly funny, bigger than life, and yet deeply human story,” said Searchlight president Matthew Greenfield. “With Jay at the helm, and Benedict and Olivia and Tony, we have a dream team bringing it to life.”
More on The Roses as we hear it.
