Ryan Reynolds is a Pet-Loving Serial Killer in Trailer for 'The Voices'

For a film that got mostly positive reviews out of Sundance, Marjane Satrapi's (Persepolis) macabre comedy The Voices has been sitting around for awhile. It just goes to show the impact of the "festival bubble" where a film about a serial killer who talks to his pets can be praised, but then probably proved a challenge for Lionsgate to slot as a general release. But the film is on the way now, and with it comes a brand new trailer.

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Anna Kendrick, Gemma Arterton, and Jacki Weaver, the dark comedy centers on a mentally unstable but happy man who gets off his meds and begins hearing voices from his pet dog and cat encouraging him to be a serial killer. When he starts taking his meds again he realizes it may be too late. The trailer isn't as funny as the concept would suggest but hopefully the best and most bizarre stuff is being saved for later.

The Voices opens in theaters and VOD on February 6th.


The Voices : Bande annonce [Ryan Reynolds, 2015] by FilmsActu

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Anna Kendrick and Gemma Arterton hear 'The Voices' with Ryan Reynolds

Anna Kendrick and Gemma Arterton's names have been mentioned a lot recently, as they both seem to be keeping themselves plenty busy. Arterton, who recently starred in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, recently finished shooting Runner Runner with Ben Affleck, and signed up to star in an adaptation of Gemma Bovery. Kendrick is part of Robert Redford's terrific The Company You Keep ensemble, and a sequel to her hit Pitch Perfect just got a green light. Now the two will team up for the first time on The Voices, a psychological thriller starring Ryan Reynolds.

The film marks a serious change-of-course for Persepolis and Chicken with Plums director, Marjane Satrapi, venturing away from the usual tales of her childhood in Iran. Written by Michael R. Perry (Paranormal Activity 2), the strange story follows a lonely bathtub factory employee named Jerry Hickfang, who kills the woman he's in love with and then begins taking advice from his evil "talking" cat Mr. Whiskers and benevolent dog Bosco who lead him on a path to salvation.

Filming is set to begin soon in Berlin. [Deadline]

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Sure Shots: Ben Affleck; Rebel Wilson; Ryan Reynolds

* Back in April we learned that Crazy Stupid Love directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa were set to bring back Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling for Focus, marking the third time the two actors would star together after next year's Gangster Squad. Well, we haven't heard much about it since, and in the meantime both have dropped out, with Ben Affleck stepping into Gosling's shoes. Or at least he will if a suitable female lead is found. Focus follows an experienced con man who enters into a relationship with a newcomer to the criminal world, only to find their romantic past come back to haunt them when they meet again years later. Ficarra and Requa will also write the script. The Gosling/Stone pairing would have been guaranteed fun, so it's a little disappointing they're no longer involved. [Deadline]

* Who's been the breakout star of 2012 so far? If you ask me it's Rebel Wilson. After making a scene-stealing supporting turn in last year's Bridesmaids, she's far and away been the best part of Pitch Perfect, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and Bachelorette in just the last few months. As her star continues to rise, Universal is keen on staying in the Rebel business. They plan to develop an untitled original comedy project which Wilson will write, produce, and star in.  No details are available yet, but any chance to see more of Wilson is okay with me. She'll be seen next in the indie comedy Struck by Lightning, and then in Michael Bay's crime caper Pain and Gain. [Deadline]

* I continue to be blown away the by the extreme shift in gears Marjane Satrapi(Persepolis) is attempting with her next film, The Voices. Veering wildly away from the deeply personal stories of growing up in Iran, The Voices is instead a psychological thriller centering on Jerry Hickfang, a lonely bathtub factory employee who murders the woman he's become infatuated with, then begins taking advice from his evil "talking" cat and benevolent dog who lead him on a fantastical path to salvation. Ryan Reynolds has now entered talks to star as Hickfang, adding to a weird upcoming slate that includes the supernatural R.I.P.D., the upcoming Highlander remake, and the animated comedy The Croods. [Deadline]

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Marjane Satrapi to direct crazy psycho-thriller, 'The Voices'

It's been a pleasure the last few years watching Iranian-born director, Marjane Strapi, find so much critical success chronicling some of the most important experiences in her life and that of her family. The deeply personal and humorous Persepolis got robbed losing out to a cooking rat for the Best Animated Feature Academy Award back in 2007, and her upcoming film, Chicken with Plums, is already gaining some serious awards traction. But now she's looking to make the biggest move of her career yet, tackling The Voices, a psychological thriller from the writer of Paranormal Activity.

The Voices has been floating around for a couple of years, at one time with Mark Romanek in the director's chair and Ben Stiller set to star, but I think the dark material has kept it from getting a greenlight. Now with Satrapi coming aboard to direct the film based on a script by Michael R. Perry, Mandalay Entertainment has it on the fast track, with a production start slated for early next year. The film sounds kinda insane, like a twisted version of  The Beaver, and follows Jerry Hickfang, an easygoing bathtub factory worker who murders his lover when things start to go bad. It's at that point he begins taking advice from his evil talking cat and benevolent talking dog on how to get away with the crime, all while leading him to salvation.

Anything that may put Satrapi further into the public eye is good as far as I'm concerned, but this sounds like some Donnie Darko-type stuff. We'll see how it turns out as casting is currently underway. Maybe Ben Stiller will come back? [Deadline]

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