As marriages go, David Fincher and Gone Girl is shaping up to be a whole lot more auspicious than that of the two characters at the story’s heart. **Empire **and 20th Century Fox is proud to give you a first-look pic from the film which also features in our new issue, showing Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), shortly after the disappearance of his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) early in the piece. Note those badges as Nick attempts to galvanise the people of North Carthage, Missouri in his quest to find his missing wife.
Gillian Flynn, the ex-journo behind the bestseller and its adaptation, has conjured a story that oscillates neatly from taut domestic drama and thriller and back again - often in the same beat. It’s perfect Fincher terrain, as anyone who’s seen The Game and Panic Room recently will testify. The central mystery powers the plot, but it’s the cracks in their relationship, deeper than a Perth batting wicket from the get-go, that will make the fallout so scarily relatable.
An Alan Pakula/Adrian Lyne late ‘80s period aside, there haven’t been too many marriage thrillers down the years (Sunrise?) so this should feel fresh. Ben Affleck, going from Batfleck to, erm, Dunnefleck, will bring his Oscary gravitas to the role while we’re looking forward to seeing Official Empire Treasure Rosamund Pike thrust firmly and deservedly into the limelight.
Gone Girl is due for release October 3 2014.