'Nightmare Alley's First Images Reveal an Ultra-Cool Noir Movie From Guillermo del Toro Starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, & Bradley Cooper
Four years after Guillermo del Toro‘s big win at the Academy Award, the acclaimed director is sure to return for another golden statue with his next film, Nightmare Alley. The first images from Searchlight Pictures tease a beautiful, noir thriller with a stacked cast that is sure to appeal to Oscar voters come awards season. Just take a look at those stunning costumes and iconic 40s waves and tell me that those categories aren’t already locked.
While the film and photos are shot in color, Nightmare Alley is a clear homage to the golden age of noir thrillers. The film is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, and is the second adaptation after the 1947 version, which is regarded as a classic example of the genre. The plot follows Stan Carlisle, a manipulative carny who joins forces with Dr. Lilith Ritter, a psychiatrist that’s sure to be the film’s femme fatale. Bradley Cooper will play Stan with Cate Blanchett playing Dr. Ritter opposite him.
Rounding out the rest of the incredible ensemble cast are Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, Tim Blake Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, and David Strathairn. Del Toro favorites Richard Jenkins and Ron Perlman also have supporting roles, and Nightmare Alley will finally reunite Rooney Mara and Blanchett after 2015’s Carol. Mara will play a carnival worker named Molly, Dafoe stars the show’s head barker Clem, Perlman will play Bruno the strongman and Jenkins is a wealthy industrialist named Ezra Grindle.
