Carol 2 is finally here…
Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 11:00PM
Not exactly. But look at these pictures of Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara on the set of Guillermo Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley. Don’t they remind you of Carol (2015)? The period costumes, the snow and winter setting, Cate’s gorgeous blond wig?
The internet lost its mind for a couple of hours...
Everyone saw the connection to Carol and searched for parallels. This looks like savvy marketing from the team behind Nightmare Alley. The film started shooting recently in Toronto and these photos mark the first images anyone has seen. Way to capitalize on Carol’s popularity and its cachet. Especially since the story of Nightmare Alley doesn’t even hinge on the characters played by Blanchett and Mara. The lead is Bradley Cooper. Here’s the official synopsis which Searchlight released with the announcement that shooting has started:
In NIGHTMARE ALLEY, an ambitious young carny (Bradley Cooper) with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who is even more dangerous than he is.
The film is based on the William Gresham novel of the same name and co-written by del Toro and Kim Morgan. The starry cast also includes Toni Colette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, and David Strathairn.The novel has previously been adapted in 1947 with Tyronne Power and Joan Blondell.
Way to get us obsessed with these images, GDT. What storyline would you write for a Carol sequel?
Reader Comments (16)
*splooge*
The Carol Cinematic Universe we deserve
In April 1965, Therese has become an outspoken radical in the first salvo of the public fight for gay rights. As a founding member of the East Coast Homophile Organization, Therese and fellow activists plan to picket famed landmarks of government including the White House, the United Nations and Independence Hall. Carol is not supportive of Therese's involvement.
Before embarking on her first picket, Therese accuses Carol of self loathing and ends their relationship. Carol has been diagnosed with cancer. Secretly, she will be embarking on an experimental program of a new treatment called chemotherapy. The medical community dismisses the innovation, but Carol sees this as her only hope. She hides her illness and uses Therese's absence to begin treatment.
We follow Therese's growth as an activist while Abby stays with Carol and nurses her. The experimental program places Carol into remission. Now believing she is well, she agrees to meet with Therese. The two acknowledge the end of their relationship and part on good terms.
Sadly, Carol's remission is brief. She is hospitalized. Against Carol's wishes, Abby goes to see Therese and tells her of Carol's terminal diagnosis. Therese goes to Carol's beside where the two women share their true feelings. Therese brings her camera and begins to document the end of Carol's life. The film ends with Therese meeting the now grown Rindy and bonding over the photographs.
James: That sounds great! But you forgot one thing: when award season rolls around, Therese will be considered a supporting role.
I've seen the original with Tyrone Power-based on which character Blanchett is playing, count her as an Oscar nominee this year. It's a fantastic role (originally played to great effect by Helen Walker), and one that kind of steals the picture.
James, I am LIVING for that sequel omg.
I love these stills!
In anticipation, I just rewatch today the original.
Is a really enterteining B movie.
Cooper have a juicy character to play and I'm dying to see Rooney, Cate and Toni being fantastic, as always, in it.
Some people were too quick to write off Blanchett after "Bernadette". She has 3 incredible parts coming up; this, "Mrs. America" and the Lucille Ball biopic.
I still find "Carol" a cold cold movie- but "Nightmare Alley" looks promising
Harge( Kyle Chandler) Carol's ex husband meets Richard ( Jake Levy) Therese's ex boyfriend and they start a passionate gay romance.
Jaragon:
I want this movie now!
Still hoping Cate pulls it together. Like Pfeiffer she lost her mojo.
^^^Ridiculous.
@Jono, lost what mojo? She was so good in Bernadette although the movie itself was pretty uneven. She has Mrs America, Stateless, this film with a juicy part and Lucille Ball biopic coming up. Time to bow down to the Queen!
I like the subdued visual palette these stills suggest. Nightmare Alley is a bleak, dark tale and the original's use of B&W photography and shadows suited the mood of the piece to a tee. Hopefully the remake will stick with this sort of look which will be so important in capturing the story's nihilistic bent.
I like the original adaptation a lot, but I welcome a new spin on the material. Blanchett should have a field day with this role.