The first trailer for Mortdecai, a movie we’ve been tracking for quite some time, finally hit the web today. The all-star cast is led by Johnny Depp, who plays a roguish international art dealer on the run and on the hunt for a painting rumored to contain the codes for a bank account full of Nazi gold.
Also appearing in the comedic crime caper alongside Depp are: Ewan McGregor (Beginners), Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man 3), Olivia Munn (Deliver Us From Evil), Paul Bettany (Transcendence), Oliver Platt (X-Men: First Class), Jeff Goldblum (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and – because she seems to be everywhere these days – Aubrey Plaza (Life After Beth). The movie is based on a trilogy of books called The Mortdecai Trilogy, written by Kyril Bonfiglioli. Eric Aronson wrote the adaptation, with full-time writer and part-time director David Koepp at the helm. Koepp is one of the premiere writers in Hollywood, having penned blockbusters like Jurassic Park, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and War of the Worlds. With Mortdecai, he’ll be looking for his first true hit as a director, with a list of less successful films on his resume like Premium Rush and Secret Window – the latter of which also starred Depp.
With the actor sporting only a fancy mustache, Mortdecai is one of the rare films in which Depp does not hide behind a garish wig and make-up. Unfortunately for the actor, it’s these types of films in which audiences have seem less interested. Depp’s most recent credits sans extravagant make-up, Transcendence and The Tourist, have been duds both critically and commercially. Whether Mortdecai suffers the same fate, we’ll have to wait until next February 6th to find out.