You likely know the narrative of “Serena” already— a project so hot Angelina Jolie and Darren Aronofsky were once attached to it. The final iteration came together with a talented creative core: Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier (“What We Lost In The Fire,” “After The Wedding”), and A-listers Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. But filming finished in the summer of 2012, and the movie was mired in post-production for 18 months.
Bier has since released "Love Is All You Need" (2012) and shot, finished and debuted "A Second Chance," starring “Game Of Thrones” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (it already screened in at the Toronto International Film Festival this past week, read our review here). But in all that time, “Serena” has failed to see the light of day. But that’s set to change soon.
The movie will debut at the London Film Festival next month and will open in UK theaters October 24. “Serena” is set in in Depression-era North Carolina, where a man (Cooper) struggles to maintain the future of his timber empire. His life becomes more complicated when he learns his wife, the titular heroine (Lawrence) cannot bear children.
Magnolia bought the U.S. rights to the film ages ago, but no stateside release date has been announced yet. Back to the narrative: eager fans have been asking for months, “where is this movie??” What was expected to be an awards contender has lain fallow for far too long and audiences aren’t dumb. But perhaps a London bow for the film leaves some hope for its quality? “Serena” arrives in the U.K. next month. The new UK poster and trailer below.
That's such a pleasant surprise! It looks really good. I've read Ron Rash's novel and
judging from this trailer, the adaptation looks very interesting. The
delay prevents pretty much everyone from expecting TOO much (me included), but the
source material and the talent involved look to have produced something
intriguing to watch. I really adore Jennifer Lawrence and I think she's a
phenomenal actress and it's clear she gives a groundbreaking, totally
Oscar-worthy performance once again. I hope it gets a U.S. release soon.
Really curious about the reaction from the London Film Festival and
most of all of how the final product will eventually look like when I'll
finally watch it.
Ugh! Yahoo video. Not wanting to see this trailer with the La Jetee "series of still images" effect, I'll wait till it shows up on a decent video service like YouTube.
Actually, the trailer looks good to me…having read the book, I'd say that neither lead looks miscast. Jennifer Lawrence in particular seems exactly as I pictured Serena Pemberton. Cooper looks good as well (his accent is a little iffy, though). It looks beautifully shot as well…it is a different kind of film for everyone, but I'm intrigued.
seems the leads are miscast here. if only Mads Mikkelson had hopped aboard this project. he was great in Bier's After the Wedding. i'll watch it simply b/c Bier is more hit than miss.
This has to be bad. A UK release date before a US one. Because what all British people want to see a film set in Depression era North Carolina. Wtf
This looks like a romantic tv series… Moreover Lawrence and Cooper are together again – it's boring.
That trailer is probably the best they could cobble together with moments of brilliance and then some terrible dialogue. I wonder if Susanne Bier should work solely in Danish than in English. I really liked A Better World, but not Things We Lost in the Fire.
Um – does this look horrible or I am just bias because of all the bad press? The line delivery is awful.