Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman will play the leads in Jay Roach’s reimagining of 1989’s The War of the Roses. Titled The Roses, the new dark comedy is written by Tony McNamara and based on the novel by Warren Adler.
According to Variety, “The film follows picture-perfect couple Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Colman), who have successful careers, great kids and an enviable [romantic] life. But underneath the façade of the perfect family is a tinderbox of competition and resentment that’s ignited when Theo’s professional dreams come crashing down.”
“The Roses is a wildly funny, bigger-than-life, and yet deeply human story,” said Searchlight president Matthew Greenfield in a statement announcing the project. “With Jay at the helm, and Benedict and Olivia and Tony, we have a dream team bringing it to life.”
Variety reports that “Cumberbatch will produce under his SunnyMarch banner with Leah Clarke and Adam Ackland, who have been in development on the project since 2017. Colman will also produce under her South of the River banner with Ed Sinclair and Tom Carver, along with Roach and Michelle Graham.”
The Original ‘The War of the Roses’ Stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner
Directed by Danny DeVito, 1989’s The War of the Roses stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as the titular couple going through an aggressive divorce for the history books. DeVito, Douglas, and Turner previously worked together on Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile. The War of the Roses got favorable reviews, nominated for several Golden Globe Awards, and made $160 million worldwide against a budget of only $26 million.
As for The Roses, SunnyMarch’s Adam Ackland said, “We are thrilled to be working on this very special film with such an incredible team. We have been long admirers of Jay’s work and his vision and passion to tell this story is incredibly inspiring.”
South of the River’s Olivia Colman and Ed Sinclair said, “We have been cooking this up with our friends at SunnyMarch for some time, and it has been an absolute thrill to see it spring into life under Jay’s passionate and thoughtful guidance. He and Tony are a match made in cinematic comedy heaven.”
Jonathan R. Adler, the son of The War of the Roses author Warren Adler, added, “Working with our partners at Searchlight Pictures in this reimagining of the classic movie is a dream come true. We are delighted to continue the legacy of our father’s brilliant work and introduce The War of the Roses to a new generation.”
