The Roses: A Reimagining of a Classic Film

In Jay Roach’s film The Roses, acclaimed British actors Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch star together for the first time, portraying Ivy and Theo Rose.

Their marriage, which began as a whirlwind romance, slowly unravels under the pressure of modern family dynamics. What starts as playful banter spirals into all-out emotional warfare, with neither willing to surrender.

The film boldly reimagines the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, resulting in a brilliantly unhinged exploration of love that tips into chaos.

Olivia Colman's character, Ivy Rose, smiling while pouring sauce in a professional kitchen setting for the film The Roses.

Benedict Cumberbatch peering over a kitchen counter with a look of surprise or shock, with fruit and a marble counter in the background.

The Creative Minds Behind The Roses Film

Directed by filmmaker Jay Roach (Bombshell, Meet the Parents), the project boasts an impressive creative team. The script was penned by Academy Award® and Emmy® nominee Tony McNamara (Poor Things, The Great), a writer celebrated for his savagely biting, darkly hilarious, and heartbreaking work.

Producer Adam Ackland notes that while the original film was brilliant, it was also of its time, which made a complete reimagining necessary.

Roach is joined by an exceptional behind-the-scenes team, including Academy Award®-nominated director of photography Florian Hoffmeister, production designer Mark Ricker, and Emmy®-winning composer Theodore Shapiro.

A Love Language Gone Wrong

According to director Jay Roach, the film’s tone is unique because it is, in his words, “basically real life.” He explains how the humour in the characters’ relationship turns from playful teasing to outright attack.

As Benedict Cumberbatch says, the film is about two people who love each other but become dysfunctional when they hit a massive bump. Beneath all the fun and games, it is ultimately a heartbreaking story.

A tense scene from The Roses film showing Olivia Colman as Ivy and Allison Janney as Eleanor seated at a conference table.

Actors Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg standing side-by-side as a couple in a scene from The Roses film, capturing their characters' dynamic.

The Perfect Home Becomes a Battleground

The house is more than just a backdrop in The Roses film; it becomes a character in its own right, a manifestation of Theo’s ambition.

Production designer Mark Ricker’s design is a jaw-dropping creation that uses bold, simple shapes and textures to symbolise the couple’s deconstructed marriage. The house has holes in its walls and fragile, teetering stairs, mirroring their relationship.

Ricker explains that he wanted the house to represent how deconstructed their marriage was, and the visuals symbolised that.

Actress Olivia Colman, for her part, admits she fell hard for the house, marvelling that architects all over the world would be jealous of its design. As producer Michelle Graham says, the house is so beautiful that both Theo and Ivy would kill for it.

The Roses Film: A Cautionary Tale

Audiences will readily connect with Theo and Ivy, according to Cumberbatch. He describes the film as a cautionary tale about how the external pressures of today’s society pull people apart. Screenwriter Tony McNamara explains that the capitalist system puts pressure on couples to be successful, which can be detrimental to a happy marriage.

As a result, the film is an honest and powerful look at the complexities of modern relationships. As director Jay Roach puts it, “This is a film with very funny moments, but at its heart it is a tragedy.”

Searchlight Pictures will release The Roses film in cinemas nationwide on 29 August 2025.