We recently saw the first theatrical trailer for Contagion showing up as a preview in a number of new films.
This coming week, we’re going to start seeing spots appear on television. Release of the film is only about a month away, so the studio is right on track for building anticipation.
This first trailer is just a shortened version of the theatrical trailer, mostly cutting out the scenes with Gwyneth Paltrow.
The second one does seem to give us some new clips, as it focuses on the reaction of the government and scientific community to the outbreak disaster.
The ensemble cast in the most interesting thing here, and certainly is the gimmick they are counting on to be the draw of the film. If this was a typical film with only one or two a-list actors, there would likely be little draw, as this story has been told enough times already.
Each of the film’s parallel sub-plots is being headed up by a couple of high-quality stars and the trailer wants to make sure you see that list: Marion Cotilard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburn, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Winslet. That’s quite a list.
Interestingly, both of these trailers seem to downplay the roles played by Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow, which seemed a major part of the film in the theatrical trailer, but which seem, here, to just be a footnote, just a brief story in the overture of the film. Paltrow plays the apparent patient zero of the outbreak, along with Damon her (movie) husband.
Contagion, directed by Steven Soderburgh, comes to theaters September 9, 2011.
