Rami Malek’s having a busy year; aside from starring as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, he’s also starring opposite Charlie Hunnam in the Bleeker Street drama (with hints of psychological thriller), Papillon, a remake of the 1973 film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

The film’s first trailer gives you a good sense of how intense this film is going to be, and while I’m sure Malek might get award season recognition for Rhapsody, I wouldn’t mind if he got some recognition for his supporting role in Papillon as well. Of course, I haven’t seen the film yet, but from the trailer, it looks like it’s well in keeping with Malek’s usual penchant for picking psychologically tense, slightly disturbed roles. He has a real knack for playing those types of characters.

Here’s more about the film:

Based on the international best-selling autobiographic books “Papillon” and “Banco”, the film follows the epic story of Henri “Papillon” Charrière (Charlie Hunnam), a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island. Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forms an unlikely alliance with a convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek), who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon’s escape.

Directed by Michael Noer and written by Aaron Guzikoswski.

Directed by: Michael Noer
Written by: Aaron Guzikoswski (adapted screenplay)
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Rami Malek, Yorick Van Wageningen, Roland Moller, Tommy Flanagan, Eve Hewson
Genre: Historical drama
Run time: 136 minutes
MPAA rating: “PAPILLON is rated R for violence including bloody images, language, nudity, and some sexual material.”

Charlie  Hunnam  (left)  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  and  Rami  Malek  (right)  stars  as  “Louis  Dega”   and  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker  Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street
Charlie  Hunnam  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker   Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  
Charlie  Hunnam  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker   Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  
Rami  Malek  stars  as  “Louis  Dega”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker  Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  
Charlie Hunnam (center) stars as “Henri ‘Papillon’ Charriére” in director Michael Noer’s PAPILLON, a Bleecker Street release. Credit: Jose Haro / Bleecker Street
Rami  Malek  (left)  stars  as  “Louis  Dega”  and  Charlie  Hunnam  (right)  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  in   director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker  Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street
Rami  Malek  stars  as  “Louis  Dega”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker  Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  
Charlie  Hunnam  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker   Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  
Charlie  Hunnam  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON,  a  Bleecker   Street  release.   Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  
Charlie  Hunnam  (right)  stars  as  “Henri  ‘Papillon’  Charriére”  in  director  Michael  Noer’s  PAPILLON, a Bleecker  Street  release.  Credit:  Jose  Haro  /  Bleecker  Street  

Papillon comes to theaters August 24. What do you think? Give your opinions in the comments section below.

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