Ben-Affleck-in-Gone-Girl

Before donning the cape and cowl for Zack Snyder, Ben Affleck will soon be seen in David Fincher’s highly anticipated adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s best-selling novel, Gone Girl, which is promising to be easily one of the best dramatic thrillers of the year.

The studio closed out last year with a tease of the movie, giving us our first look at Affleck in the lead. And with its autumn/fall release date on the horizon, they’ve launched a brilliant first teaser trailer to whet our appetites.Gone Girl Poster.

Here’s the synopsis for the original novel:

Marriage can be a real killer.

One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Rosamund Pike of course takes the female lead as Affleck’s on-screen wife, Amy, with Missi Pyle, Tyler Perry, Scoot McNairy, Neil Patrick Harris, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, and Casey Wilson completing the cast.

Fincher directs from a script adapted by Gillian Flynn, herself, who has revealed that she wrote an entirely new third act for the movie. So even if you’ve read the book, don’t expect to know how the film will end.

Fox are fairly light when it comes to awards contenders in the main categories this year, and no doubt that’ll mean they’ll want to keep the spotlight very much on Gone Girl and Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings in the coming months. With Fincher, Flynn, Affleck, and Pike all on board, I’d hazard a guess to say all four will be strong contenders in their respective categories, with the film competing for Best Picture as well.

Gone Girl will be released on October 3rd in the US and UK, in prime position for a run at the Oscars.

Here’s the official synopsis for Gone Girl: