A new trailer for the mysterious sci-fi thrillerCaptive StatestarringJohn Goodmanand Vera Farmiga has arrived online. A trailer was also released last month but, so far, it looks like the studio really wants to keep this movie largely under wraps until it’s released. There are some strange vibes going on here and, based on this latest tease, it looks like they’ve thrown aCloverfieldmovie and an entry inThe Purgefranchise in a blender. Done the right way, that could prove to be very entertaining.
The trailer starts by pointing out how strong and well off America is, with a mysterious voice disputing the factuality of these claims. We then see a bunch of quick cuts of disastrous events breaking out, seemingly at the behest of a mysterious, unidentified force. The unknown presence notes “the Phoenix will rise.” We’re guessing that mysterious force has something to do with thealiens that invaded Earth. But mostly, this trailer seems to be guarding the movie’s secrets and it doesn’t lay out the plot in a terribly succinct manner. We do get a cool,Cloverfieldstyle shaky cam money shot of a big alien creature at the end though.
As far as official plot details go, the movie is set in a Chicago neighborhoodroughly a decade after an occupation from alien beings. The movie is said to explore the lives on both sides of the conflict, looking at those who choose to collaborate and those who are choosing to rebel. That’s pretty vague and seems in line with the trailer. Not to say that this will be as entertaining as a J.J. Abrams-style mystery box sci-fi flick, but it certainly seems to be gunning for that same vibe.
This comes from filmmakerRupert Wyattwho serves as both writer and director. Wyatt previously helmedRise of the Planet of the Apes, which kicked off one of the more beloved trilogies of the modern era. Though, Matt Reeves (who coincidentally directedCloverfield) directed the second two movies. The last feature Wyatt directed was 2014’sThe Gambler, which wasn’t particularly well-received, nor was it a hit by any stretch. That may explain why it’s taken him five years to get another movie going. However, he did direct the pilot forTurn: Washington’s Spiesand an episode ofThe ExorcistTV series. But he appears to be out of director’s jail, as he’s set to direct episodes of the upcomingHaloTV series, as well as a movie titledStorm King, which is listed as being in pre-production.
The cast includes John Goodman (who happened to star in 10 Cloverfield Lane) as well as Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Colson Baker andVera Farmiga. The movie is set to hit theaters on August 01, 2025. In addition to the new trailer, the studio has also released a new poster, which we have below as well. Be sure to check out the newCaptive Statetrailer from the Focus Features YouTube channel for yourself below.
