Killers of the Flower Moon teaser: Martin Scorsese film amps up the mystery and drama ahead of Cannes premiere

The first teaser of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon reunites Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro on film after 30 years. The two Hollywood actors headline this serial killer mystery set in 1920s America which also stars Jesse Plemons and Lily Gladstone. The film will have its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023, and will be shown in US theatres in October 2023 before eventually being streamed on Apple TV+ later this year. (Also read: Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Wes Anderson to be part of upcoming Cannes 2023)

The film’s lead actor shared the first teaser of the film before the Cannes premiere on Twitter. Leonardo wrote, “#KillersOfTheFlowerMoon will exclusively be in theatres from @ParamountMovies & @AppleFilms this October. It’s a project I am proud of & I cannot wait to share it with you all. @lily_gladstone @johnlithgow.” Based on a true story, the teaser focuses on a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma of Osage Nation members after oil was discovered on their land. The newly-formed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) looks into the matter. The dramatic trailer has key parts for Leonardo, Lily and Robert. New Oscar winner Brendan Fraser can also be spotted in the teaser.

Fans responded to the teaser in his Twitter post. One fan shared, “I have been waiting for this ever since I read the excellent book years ago.” Another said, “One of the best trailers I’ve seen in a long time.” While another added, “Hairs standing up on my arms. So much talk of the big name actors in this movie – and Lily Gladstone may yet be the one to really watch out for.”

Robert De Niro and Leonardo play uncle and nephew in the film. They previously worked together on the 1993 film This Boy’s Life. Leonardo’s character marries an Indigenous woman, played by Lily and she faces much discrimination from the rest of the community. Jesse is the FBI agent investigating the cast. One line from the teaser, “Can you find the wolves in this picture?” has been used to chilling effect.

At three hours and 26 minutes, the drama is one of Martin’s longer films. It has been adapted from David Grann’s 2017 best-selling non-fiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI and is a strong Oscar contender for next year.