If Ridley Scott's new action thriller, The Counselor, isn't on your list of most anticipated films of the year yet, then perhaps it should be. With a screenplay written by acclaimed novelist Cormac McCarthy (The Road, No Country for Old Men), Ridley Scott serving as director and the lead roles filled by Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, this sordid little crime tale has more than enough talent involved to pique a significant amount of interest.

The film is set on the Mexican border, and Fassbender plays a lawyer who decides that he'd like to make a little extra money on the side through undeniably illegal means. He becomes embroiled in a $20 million cocaine deal, aided and abetted by a willing friend (Bardem) and a knowledgeable stranger (Pitt).

While we wait for a full trailer, which hopefully won't be too far away now considering the fact that The Counselor's release date was bumped up to October, EW has released two brand new promotional stills showing the principal cast: Michael Fassbender looking effortlessly dapper in a suit and open-collared shirt, and female leads Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz relaxing at the spa.

Michael Fassbender in 'The Counselor'
Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz in 'The Counselor'

If you're not all that excited by these images, however, and you want to get right down to the meat and bones of The Counselor, then you're in luck; McCarthy has published a lengthy excerpt from the script, titled "Scenes of the Crime," at the New Yorker. The scenes appear to be from quite early on in the film, since none of the characters are yet named.

It's a slow build to a climax that we won't spoil here, but it looks like The Counselor will certainly be earning its R rating. On paper, it seems to be along the same lines as a Nicholas Winding Refn film, with only very minimal dialogue and long periods of quiet in between the outbursts of violence.

McCarthy's reputation alone will no doubt leave many people eager to see the results of his first original screenplay to be produced for the big screen, but let us know what you're hoping for from The Counselor in the comments.

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The Counselor is out in theaters on October 25, 2013.

Source: EW