Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek plan their escape from a vicious penal colony in the trailer for Papillon. The upcoming film is a loose remake of the 1973 classic starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, but also takes inspiration from the real life Henri “Papillon” Charrière's memoirs Papillon and Banco. Danish filmmaker Michael Noer is calling the shots this time around, drawing from a script by Prisoners screenwriter and The Red Road creator Aaron Guzikowski; producers Joey McFarland, p.g.a., David Koplan, p.g.a., Ram Bergman and Roger Corbi additionally worked on the project.

The new Papillon follows Parisian safecracker Henri “Papillon” Charrière (Hunnam) as he is unjustly convicted of murder and sentenced to life on Devil's Island's infamous penal colony. Determined to escape his terrible prison somehow, Papillon finds an unexpected ally in the form of a fellow criminal: the offbeat counterfeiter Louis Dega (Malek). What starts out as a mutually beneficial transaction - where Dega agrees to use his skills to fund Papillon's escape in return for the latter's protection - evolves into a proper friendship as the pair make their plans to break free.

Bleecker Street has released the first trailer for Papillon online, ahead of the film's release in theaters this summer. In addition to Hunnam and Malek, the Papillon cast includes Hunnam's former Sons of Anarchy costar Tommy Flanagan, along with Roland Møller (Atomic Blonde) and The Knick veteran Eve Hewson, who also stars in this fall's Robin Hood. Check out the Papillon trailer in the space above.

The Papillon trailer offers a quick outline of the film's story, revealing how Dega and Papillon meet for the first time and (eventually) become more than mere partners in crime. It further offers a small taste of the film's brutal violence and otherwise gritty tone, along with shots of the movie's scenic filming locations (which include both Malta and Serbia) and more than a few noticeable glimpses of Hunnam running around shirtless. Hewson is among the cast members who make brief appearances in the trailer, but by and large the focus here is on Hunnam and Malek's scenes together in the movie.

Papillon screened at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and the initial reaction to the film was mixed to positive. Hunnam and Malek's onscreen chemistry, as well as their individual performances, are singled out as Papillon's greatest strengths in most of the film's reviews thus far. On the other hand, some critics feel the movie's violence and emphasis on action comes at the expense of its story and themes, resulting in a film that is significantly inferior to the 1973 Papillon. Bleecker Street isn't banking on the movie being an awards season contender either - based on its late August release date - but Papillon may yet prove to be an entertaining historical adventure, judging by the trailer.

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Papillon begins a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on August 24, 2018.

Source: Bleecker Street