Mark Wahlberg is a high stakes gambler whose vice spirals out of control in a remake of the 1974 drama. A red band trailer has been released for The Gambler.
The film is directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) from a script by William Monahan (The Departed).
The film’s synopsis has revealed: “Jim Bennett is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) in his wake.
“He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance…”
The original 1974 film was directed by Karel Reisz, written by James Toback and starred The Godfather‘s James Caan in the title role.
Mark Wahlberg was Oscar-nominated for his role in Monahan’s The Departed. The Transformers star’s reboot of The Gambler will be released in the UK May 1, 2015. Watch the red band trailer below.