Universal Pictures just sent over a batch of new images to accompany the trailer debut for their upcoming action film Contraband, which just after skimming through the trailer looks like it’s aiming to be the Bourne Identity of drug trafficking pictures as Mark Wahlberg stars as a one-time drug smuggler forced back into the biz when his brother (Giovanni Ribisi) botches a job.
Set for a January 13, 2012 the studio would appear to be dumping it, but with a cast that includes Wahlberg and Ribisi along with Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna and J.K. Simmons it can’t be all bad can it?
The director is Iceland native Baltasar Kormakur whose most notable work is 2000’s 101 Reykjavik, and this film just happens to be a remake of Reykjavik-Rotterdam, a film Kormakur starred in, playing the role Wahlberg occupies here. Contraband serves as his first major feature on the domestic scene. Take a look at the trailer and see what you think and check out the full gallery of all nine new images right here.
Mark Wahlberg leads the cast of Contraband, a white-knuckle action-thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked hard to leave behind and the family he’ll do anything to protect. Set in New Orleans, the film explores the cutthroat underground world of international smuggling-full of desperate criminals and corrupt officials, high-stakes and big payoffs-where loyalty rarely exists and death is one wrong turn away.
Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) long ago abandoned his life of crime, but after his brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones), botches a drug deal for his ruthless boss, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), Chris is forced back into doing what he does best-running contraband-to settle Andy’s debt. Chris is a legendary smuggler and quickly assembles a crew with the help of his best friend, Sebastian (Ben Foster), to head to Panama and return with millions in counterfeit bills.
Things quickly fall apart and with only hours to reach the cash, Chris must use his rusty skills to successfully navigate a treacherous criminal network of brutal drug lords, cops and hit men before his wife, Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and sons become their target.
