Searchlight Pictures premiered “The Roses” in London on 28 Aug, with stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman walking the red carpet alongside co-stars Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg. The dark comedy, directed by Jay Roach, reaches cinemas on 29 Aug 2025. Adapted by Tony McNamara from Warren Adler’s 1981 novel and the 1989 film “The War of the Roses,” the remake follows Ivy and Theo—a once-perfect couple whose marriage implodes amid clashing ambitions—blending British wit with slap-stick set pieces. Ncuti Gatwa joins the ensemble, which pits Colman and Cumberbatch against each other in escalating domestic warfare. Early notices are broadly favourable: aggregated reviews place the picture at 66 percent “fresh” from 65 critiques, with several outlets praising the leads’ chemistry and Roach’s balance of satire and pathos. The Daily Mail called it “devilishly good fun,” while Toronto Sun reviewers highlighted its mix of British humour and American slapstick. Theatrical audiences will find the film launching alongside Netflix’s new release “The Thursday Murder Club,” Chris Columbus’s adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestseller starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley. The simultaneous arrivals underscore a broader shift toward star-driven remakes and the growing appetite for ‘cosy crime’ entertainment.