Cate Blanchett and Bradley Cooper look ominous in the new image released for Guillermo Del Toro's upcoming film, Nightmare Alley. Del Toro is best known for his visually striking films like Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, and Pacific Rim, with his most recent directorial effort, The Shape of Water, winning Best Picture at the Oscars in 2017, as well as several other awards. In addition to Nightmare Alley, del Toro also has an adaptation of Pinocchio tentatively scheduled to be released sometime next year.

Nightmare Alley, based on a 1946 book of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, tells the story of an ambitious, manipulative carny (Bradley Cooper) who teams up with a psychologist (Cate Blanchett) in order to trick people into giving them money. In addition to Cooper and Blanchett, the noir psychological thriller stars Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe, Tim Blake Nelson, Toni Collette, and Ron Perlman. The first trailer for the film suggests it will continue del Toro's interest in chilling, atmospheric storytelling but stray away from his usual penchant for the fantasy genre, and focus instead on dark human drama.

Related: Nightmare Alley Is A Genre First For Guillermo Del Toro

In the latest image released for Nightmare Alley, courtesy of Empire, Cooper and Blanchett look ominously past the camera, as if in the middle of planning something sinister. Both actors are dressed in era-appropriate clothing, with the film seemingly taking place in the 1940s. Snow falls through the window behind them, hinting that the story will take place, at least in part, during the winter months. Check out the original image below:

Nightmare Alley Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett

While the image doesn't give too much away, it does suggest that the relationship between Cooper and Blanchett's characters in Nightmare Alley will be one of the key pillars of the story. Considering the selfish and manipulative nature of the pair, however, it seems likely that whatever partnership they form won't be lasting forever. Outside of their working relationship, the image also lends credence to the idea that perhaps there is a romantic element to their coupling as well.

Little information has been released about Nightmare Alley thus far, but considering del Toro's unique eye for visuals, and Cooper and Blanchett's immense acting talents, the film seems likely to be a hit when it releases later this year. While del Toro has proven himself a master at interweaving fantasy, horror and action in his films, it will be interesting to see him tackle a slow-burn-type noir story, more firmly rooted in dark human drama. It seems likely, considering the subject matter and time period of the movie, that del Toro will also be able to draw considerably from old noir films, building a unique palette and world that audiences have not yet experienced in a Guillermo del Toro film.

More: Nightmare Alley Cast & Character Guide

Source: Empire

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